exhibitionism

[ ek-suh-bish-uh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. a tendency to display one's abilities or to behave in such a way as to attract attention.
2. Psychiatry. a disorder characterized especially by a compulsion to exhibit the genitals in public.

exhibitionism

/ ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. a compulsive desire to attract attention to oneself, esp by absurd or exaggerated behaviour or boasting
2. psychiatry a compulsive desire to expose one's genital organs publicly

Derived Forms

• ˌexhiˈbitionist, nounadjective
• ˌexhiˌbitionˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• nonex·hi·bition·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhibitionism¹

First recorded in 1890–95; exhibition + -ism

Example Sentences

IEDs of exhibitionism are going off in every pop-culture marketplace.

From The Daily Beast

Snapchat offers all the exhibitionism and daring without the threat of public disclosure.

From The Daily Beast

When he is at his best, Owens cuts sensual garments that do not rely on flamboyance or exhibitionism to evoke sex appeal.

From The Daily Beast

She talks to Lorenza Muñoz about exhibitionism, her passion for acting, and Last Tango in Paris.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, it is a form of exhibitionism and is an impulse disorder.

From The Daily Beast

It is necessary to insist upon this fact, as distinguishing exhibitionism in children from exhibitionism in adults.

From Project Gutenberg

Exhibitionism is not rare among insane women and I have myself treated two typical cases.

From Project Gutenberg

The presence of masturbation in this case renders it untypical as a case of exhibitionism.

From Project Gutenberg

It is undoubtedly true that many cases of real or apparent exhibitionism occur in epileptics.

From Project Gutenberg

Nine months after, the acts of exhibitionism ceased, apparently in a spontaneous manner, and there has so far been no relapse.

From Project Gutenberg