flâneur

[flah-nœr]

noun

French.

plural

flâneurs 

1. a person who lounges or strolls around in a seemingly aimless way; an idler or loafer.

   the flâneur, that cool, aloof observer of urban society.

flâneur

/ flɑnœr /

noun

1. an idler or loafer

Word History and Origins

Origin of flâneur¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from French: literally, “loafer, idler, man about town,” equivalent to flân-, stem of flâner “to waste time” + -eur ( def. ); flânerie ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of flâneur¹

C19: see _flânerie

Example Sentences

“The Fact Checker” is narrated by a man holding the titular title who is, essentially, a flâneur: a literary type who wanders around his urban environment, observing and commenting on society from a somewhat detached position.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was the quintessential bohemian flâneur, just this extraordinary figure who you couldn’t miss walking up and down the streets.”

From New York Times

But George is no mere flâneur.

From Los Angeles Times

Marshall was a high school English teacher in New Orleans who was passionate about childhood literacy, but he also ran a travel consulting company called Le Flâneur Noir that helped people book personalized trips around the world.

From Los Angeles Times

A man like Rivera — just look at him — wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines like some wasted flâneur.

From Washington Post