egregious

[ ih-gree-juh s, -jee-uh s ]

/ ɪˈgri dʒəs, -dʒi əs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR egregious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant: an egregious mistake; an egregious liar.

Archaic. distinguished or eminent.

Nearby words

Origin of egregious

1525–35; < Latin ēgregius preeminent, equivalent to ē- e-¹ + greg-, stem of grēx flock + -ius adj. suffix; see -ous

Related forms

e·gre·gious·ly, adverbe·gre·gious·ness, nounnon·e·gre·gious, adjectivenon·e·gre·gious·ly, adverb

non·e·gre·gious·ness, nounun·e·gre·gious, adjectiveun·e·gre·gious·ly, adverbun·e·gre·gious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for egregious

Perhaps one of the most egregious examples is the abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws.
Are Police Stealing People’s Property?|Joan Blades, Matt Kibbe|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Here are just a few of the most egregious uses of lethal force by Chicago police.
Chicago’s Cops Don’t Even Get Investigated for Shooting People in the Back|Justin Glawe|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most egregious uses of lethal force have been borne by people with intellectual disabilities and children.
Worse Than Eric Garner: Cops Who Got Away With Killing Autistic Men and Little Girls|Emily Shire|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To call Wild an emotional film would be an egregious disservice to its astounding journey to screen.
Crying With Laura Dern: The Star on Her Oscar-Worthy ‘Wild’ Turn|Kevin Fallon|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Conditions are worsening and the Rodney King verdict is certainly not the most egregious injustice in our midst.
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson|Cory Booker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He felt every glance of Fournel's eye a contemptuous comment upon his deformity, now so egregious and humiliating.
The Lane That Had No Turning, Complete|Gilbert Parker
By Hugo's brother I will be tried on no charge;—seeing that he is, was, and ever will be—in charity I speak it—an egregious fool.
Three Courses and a Dessert|Anonymous
They are extremely poor, egregious liars, the greatest thieves in the world, and very treacherous.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. II|Robert Kerr
That I have been making a most egregious fool of myself, sir,” replied I, “with respect to the de Clares.
Japhet in Search of a Father|Frederick Marryat
I give you my word, the appointment of Mr. Butterfield will be an egregious political blunder.
The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Two|Abraham Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for egregious

egregious

/ (ɪˈɡriːdʒəs, -dʒɪəs) /

adjective

outstandingly bad; flagrantan egregious lie

archaic distinguished; eminent

Derived Formsegregiously, adverbegregiousness, noun

Word Origin for egregious

C16: from Latin ēgregius outstanding (literally: standing out from the herd), from ē- out + grex flock, herd

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for egregious

egregious

adj.

1530s, "distinguished, eminent, excellent," from Latin egregius "distinguished, excellent, extraordinary," from the phrase ex grege "rising above the flock," from ex "out of" (see ex-) + grege, ablative of grex "herd, flock" (see gregarious).

Disapproving sense, now predominant, arose late 16c., originally ironic and is not in the Latin word, which etymologically means simply "exceptional." Related: Egregiously; egregiousness.