conspicuous

[ kuhn-spik-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

1. easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable:

   a conspicuous error.

   Synonyms: salient, marked, clear, noticeable, manifest

2. attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities:

   He was conspicuous by his booming laughter.

   Synonyms: noteworthy, striking, prominent

conspicuous

/ kənˈspɪkjʊəs /

adjective

1. clearly visible; obvious or showy
2. attracting attention because of a striking quality or feature

   conspicuous stupidity

Derived Forms

• conˈspicuousness, noun
• conˈspicuously, adverb

Other Words From

• con·spic·u·ous·ly adverb
• con·spic·u·ous·ness con·spi·cu·i·ty [kon-spi-, kyoo, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspicuous¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin conspicuus “clearly seen, visible,” equivalent to conspic(ere) “to see, catch sight of” + -uus adjective suffix; conspectus; contiguous, continuous, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspicuous¹

C16: from Latin conspicuus, from conspicere to perceive; see conspectus

Example Sentences

The system is truck-mounted and road-mobile, as are the big and conspicuous radars that stood next to it on display.

From The Daily Beast

For Shaftel this kind of licentious behavior amounts to “conspicuous consumption disguised as urbanity.”

From The Daily Beast

Any list of his conspicuous qualities turns out to be a recitation of opposites.

From The Daily Beast

As recently as a few years ago, buying and driving a hybrid was an exercise in conspicuous consumption.

From The Daily Beast

It was a dizzying time, and Shaquille handled an array of new situations with conspicuous aplomb.

From The Daily Beast

The doctrine of international free trade, albeit the most conspicuous of its applications, was but one case under the general law.

From Project Gutenberg

Here was none of the old-time stiffness of Capheaton, and there was a conspicuous absence of dead masters and their pupils.

From Project Gutenberg

The movements which its active motion causes among the corpuscles render it conspicuous.

From Project Gutenberg

The more conspicuous characteristics of the blood in various diseases have been mentioned in previous sections.

From Project Gutenberg

Although all varieties are increased, the characteristic and conspicuous cell is the myelocyte.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blatant
• flagrant
• glaring
• influential
• notable
• remarkable
• salient
• striking