exotic
Americanadjective
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of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized.
exotic foods; exotic plants.
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strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance.
an exotic hairstyle.
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of a uniquely new or experimental nature.
exotic weapons.
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of, relating to, or involving stripteasing.
the exotic clubs where strippers are featured.
noun
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something that is exotic.
The flower show included several tropical exotics with showy blooms.
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an exotic dancer; a striptease dancer or belly dancer.
adjective
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originating in a foreign country, esp one in the tropics; not native
an exotic plant
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having a strange or bizarre allure, beauty, or quality
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(of trees, esp pine trees) native to the northern hemisphere but cultivated in New Zealand
an exotic forest
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of or relating to striptease
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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exoticismnoun
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exoticnessnoun
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nonexoticadjective
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unexoticadjective
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exoticallyadverb
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nonexoticallyadverb
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unexoticallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of exotic
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin exōticus, from Greek exōtikós “foreign;” see exo-, -tic
Explanation
Something so unusual that it must be from some unfamiliar place is exotic. An exotic pet might be a panda, instead of a hamster. An exotic trip might be a journey to the Galapagos Islands, instead of to Orlando's Sea World. Animals and people, or sensory things like food and smells, are often called exotic when they are from far-away lands. In the 16th century, exotic came into use — from Latin and Greek words for "foreign," which came, in turn, from exo-, meaning "outside." By the 17th century it was also being used to describe things that are striking or unusual. Even when the words strange and alien are sometimes used as synonyms.
Vocabulary lists containing exotic
Stargirl
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"Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez
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"Wild Animals Aren't Pets" and "Let People Own Exotic Animals"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The seven-bedroom dwelling—which sits on nearly 2 acres just off the iconic Pacific Coast Highway—features an exotic European-inspired aesthetic, both inside and out.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
A competitive convention would have been a delightfully exotic twist to such a topsy-turvy campaign in Maine.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
What may be generic to you can be very exotic to me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
The breakthrough confirms that these exotic objects can power some of the brightest stellar explosions ever seen.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
I stood at the sink in Miss Sadie’s tiny kitchen, wrapping an assortment of exotic tea leaves in a worn piece of cloth.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
Of the gardens, there are three “don’t misses” open to the public, including Abbotsbury for its exotics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Hofvendahl became passionate about gardening in Altadena, where he turned their double lot into an orchard, with more than 150 fruit trees, many of them exotics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025
Gardener Alan Titchmarsh recalled in an article that the Queen "loved primroses, lily-of-the-valley and other modest blooms far more than elaborate exotics; something that speaks volumes about her personality".
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2022
Might as well take a take chance, too, and throw him in your exotics.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2022
The exotics walked slowly back to the Midway.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
