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
• nonexhibitionism
  noun
• exhibitionistic
  adjective

---

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

See Examples For:

exhibitionism

A Turkish court later ruled that their choreography and physical contact on stage amounted to exhibitionism.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Cage, who wrote music to suppress his ego, had a problem with Ono’s exhibitionism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

But, if protesting is just fruitless exhibitionism, as Teddy claims, and radical acts of direct action don’t seem to work any better, what is there to do if no one will listen?

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025

My question for you, which I also think you should ask yourself, is: What exactly do you like about the idea of this kind of exhibitionism?

From Slate ● Jun. 7, 2021

I am here obliged to contradict Krafft-Ebing, who regards exhibitionism as the effect of the impotence of certain individuals depraved by excesses, or as the unconscious act of certain epileptics.

From The Sexual Question A Scientific, psychological, hygienic and sociological study by Auguste Forel

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---