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.
-
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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exotics
plural
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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:
“This car, like most exotic cars, does not pay the bills,” Brauer said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Along with fantasizing about exotic locations and charming apartments, we encourage you to spend some time on the boring yet important daily life stuff.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Yet what was once an exotic European escapade for Britain's star footballers is now a well-trodden pilgrimage, as an increasing number of players eye opportunities further afield.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
People rarely think about money while sipping piña coladas and sailing to exotic destinations, but cruise-line passengers might have noticed a detail that helps explain how those companies make theirs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
It was other people who defined it as exotic or dangerous.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Last summer, the development team lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife test track in a mind-bending 6:49.275, thumping not a few half-million-dollar exotics in the process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
“It’s one of the more common injuries we see, getting hit by a car,” says Dr. Marcie Logsdon, an exotics veterinarian at the hospital, and a falconer.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
The python has been transferred to a specialist exotics centre where it is recovering.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2023
At the time it was groundbreaking, even radical, to photograph transgender people as regular folk, rather than as exotics or freaks or medical specimens, and rarer still for the lensman to be transgender.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2023
The exotics walked slowly back to the Midway.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
