exhibitionist

[ ek-suh-bish-uh-nist ]

noun

1. a person who behaves in ways intended to attract attention or display their powers, personality, etc.
2. Psychiatry. a person with the compulsions of exhibitionism.

Other Words From

• ex·hi·bi·tion·is·tic [ek-s, uh, -bish-, uh, -, nis, -tik], adjective
• ex·hi·bi·tion·is·ti·cal·ly [ek-s, uh, -bish-, uh, -, nis, -tik-lee], adverb
• non·ex·hi·bi·tion·is·tic adjective
• sem·i·ex·hi·bi·tion·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhibitionist¹

First recorded in 1815–25; exhibition + -ist

More About Exhibitionist

What does exhibitionist mean?

In psychiatry, an exhibitionist is someone who has a compulsion to exhibit, or display, their genitals in public. Exhibitionist can also be used in nonclinical, everyday speech to refer to a show-off or a person who overshares.

A popular slang term for exhibitionist is flasher, but keep in mind that a person diagnosed as an exhibitionist has a clinical disorder.

Example: She called him an exhibitionist for his tendency to share too much personal information at parties.

Where does exhibitionist come from?

Exhibitionist is first recorded in the early 1800s for a person who takes part in an exhibition, or a public performance or art showing. Exhibition and the verb exhibit are derived from the Latin exhibēre, “to put on display, present.” The psychiatric sense of exhibitionist emerges in the late 1800s, and today, exhibitionism is called exhibitionistic disorder.

Artists, especially painters and sculptors, exhibit their artwork at galleries for people to view—and buy. Companies also exhibit new products at special conventions, and academics, their research at conferences. It’s clearer to refer these types of presenters as exhibitors, due to the common psychological sense and sexual associations of exhibitionist.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of exhibitionist?

• exhibitionism (noun)
• exhibitionistic (adjective)
• exhibitionistically (adverb)

What are some synonyms for exhibitionist?

• flasher (slang)
• flaunter
• braggart 
• grandstander

What are some words that share a root or word element with exhibitionist?

 

• exhibit
• exhibitor
• exhibition
• exhibitory
• inhibit
• prohibit

What are some words that often get used in discussing exhibitionist?

• sexuality
• flashing
• voyeurism
• indecent exposure

What are some words exhibitionist may be commonly confused with?

• exhibitor
• exhibitioner 
• extrovert

How is exhibitionist used in real life?

Two important notes in exhibitionist in the context of psychiatry and justice:

1. An exhibitionist is a person with a real clinical disorder.
2. The act of exhibitionism is a form of sexual assault and a crime.

That said, exhibitionist is sometimes more loosely used to refer to people who privately and consensually display their private parts. The label exhibitionist is also used more generally for someone who puts themselves on public display, especially in a showy, revealing, or uncomfortable way.

The sexy exhibitionist couple across the street who always keep their blinds open have just moved out. Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.

— Fanta Sesay (@fantasesay) October 3, 2019

once in college I saw this guy who'd put himself in the stocks as some sort of exhibitionist public art project about injustice, not sure. He left a notebook by the display for people to write comments and I wrote "get a job"

— Reluctant Exister (@IriathZhul) September 11, 2019

Craftsmanship is a conversation. It’s a love-letter between the maker and the material, simultaneously intimate and exhibitionist. A give and take happens here that, if done well, results in a piece of art that is as beautiful as it is functional. It’s a… https://t.co/51eITCX5wK pic.twitter.com/hlffQE2DOU

— TenThousandVillages (@VillagesCanada) April 1, 2019

Try using exhibitionist!

Is exhibitionist used appropriately in the following sentence?

My best friend is a real exhibitionist; she makes new friends so easily!