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

Other Word Forms

• conspicuously adverb
• conspicuousness noun
• conspicuity 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

“Simon, I have no doubt that you are an excellent thief, and a dreadful knave, and a rascally rogue as well. But you would be far too conspicuous in an all-girls’ school.

Read more on Literature

There are conspicuous downsides for a nonprofit company getting accustomed to enhancement money from outside producers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Wallachians were accustomed to give it as a surname to any person who rendered himself conspicuous either by courage, cruel actions, or cunning.”

Read more on Salon

The giant candlesticks’ scrolled feet support robustly modeled evangelists; Mark is most conspicuous, as befits the patron saint of Venice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In New Haven, Conn., the school’s conspicuous absence from the crosshairs has become a subject of intense campus speculation—among professors, students and even parents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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