exhibitionism

American  

[ek-suh-bish-uh-niz-uhm] / ˌɛk səˈbɪʃ əˌnɪz əm /

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 British  

/ 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

---

Other Word Forms

• exhibitionist
  noun
• exhibitionistic
  adjective
• nonexhibitionism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of exhibitionism

First recorded in 1890–95; exhibition + -ism

Explanation

Exhibitionism Is acting in a way that deliberately and extravagantly draws attention to yourself. Your brother's exhibitionism might lead him to wear a colorful wig and a tuxedo for the first day of school. There is a kind of exhibitionism that is considered a psychiatric illness — generally, this involves being naked, or partially naked, in public. The more ordinary type of exhibitionism also involves behavior that attracts notice, but it might be singing and dancing in a mall, wearing eccentric clothing, or another conspicuous way of acting. Exhibitionism comes from exhibit, "action of displaying," from the Latin exhibere, "to show or display."

Example Sentences

Exhibitionism provokes an inquiry inescapable for those who, like me, spend countless hours sitting in front of a stereo: Is there a rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic?

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2017

The band were speaking at the launch of Exhibitionism, a career retrospective at London's Saatchi Gallery.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2016

Here are some key things to see at "Exhibitionism," the British band's massive exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery that opens Tuesday:

From US News • Apr. 4, 2016

"Exhibitionism" runs at the Saatchi Gallery from April 5 to Sept. 4, after which it will tour 11 cities around the world over a four-year period.

From Reuters • Apr. 4, 2016

Tickets for Exhibitionism, which opens at London’s Saatchi Gallery next year, go on sale on Friday 10 July.

From The Guardian • Jul. 8, 2015