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.
And unlike athletic pursuits that can seem elitist—think skiing or windsurfing in exotic locales—mowing the lawn can make accomplished professionals seem more relatable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026
The philosophers are not claiming that such exotic life definitely exists.
From Science Daily • Jun. 24, 2026
The McCartneys decided that they’d like to travel to exotic locales to record, asking their record company for a list of their studios in countries that weren’t the UK.
From Salon • Jun. 23, 2026
Bordighera is on the Italian Riviera, bracketed by the sea, with a beach and an exotic garden referenced by painter Claude Monet.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
The next course arrives and Celia returns to listening and observing, in between trying to figure out if the meat disguised in feather-light pastry and delicate wine sauce is actually lamb or something more exotic.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
