flaunt
Americanverb (used without object)
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flaunts,
present (3rd person singular)
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flaunted,
past participle, past
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flaunting
present participle
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to parade or display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly.
-
to wave conspicuously in the air.
verb (used with object)
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flaunts,
present (3rd person singular)
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flaunted,
past participle, past
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flaunting
present participle
noun
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the act of flaunting.
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Obsolete. something flaunted.
verb
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to display (possessions, oneself, etc) ostentatiously; show off
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to wave or cause to wave freely; flutter
noun
Usage
Flaunt is sometimes wrongly used where flout is meant: they must be prevented from flouting (not flaunting ) the law
Commonly Confused
The use of flaunt to mean “to ignore or treat with disdain” ( He flaunts community standards with his behavior ) is strongly objected to by many usage guides, which insist that only flout can properly express this meaning. From its earliest appearance in English in the 16th century, flaunt has had the meanings “to display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly” in public and “to parade or display ostentatiously.” These senses approach those of flout, which dates from about the same period: “to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock.” A sentence like Once secure in his new social position, he was able to flaunt his lower-class origins can thus be ambiguous in current English. Considering the similarity in pronunciation of the two words, it is not surprising that flaunt has assumed the meanings of flout and that this use has appeared in the speech and edited writing of even well-educated, literate persons. Nevertheless, many regard the senses of flaunt and flout as entirely unrelated and concerned speakers and writers still continue to keep them separate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flauntsimple
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flauntssimple
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have flauntedperfect
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has flauntedperfect
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am flauntingprogressive
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are flauntingprogressive
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is flauntingprogressive
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have been flauntingperfect progressive
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has been flauntingperfect progressive
Past
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flauntedsimple
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had flauntedperfect
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was flauntingprogressive
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were flauntingprogressive
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had been flauntingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flaunt
First recorded in 1560–70; of obscure origin; compare Norwegian dialect flanta “to show off”
Explanation
Flaunt is "to display proudly or show off," like when you flaunt your new Italian leather jacket by wearing it to the beach and pretending you're cold to make sure everyone sees it. Although we love it when a peacock flaunts his colorful feathers, when a person does the same thing we feel bad. Flaunt is like bragging, which can bum people out because they don't have whatever you're showing off, like that cool jacket. When rich people flaunt their wealth by speeding past you in their limo, they may as well splash a mud puddle on your white clothes. Leave the flaunting for peacocks and stars in bad reality TV shows.
Vocabulary lists containing flaunt
The Crossover
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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A Lesson Before Dying
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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:
It is a quiet sort of luxury, one I don’t flaunt, but one I don’t apologize for either.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Just last week, the actress shared a mirror selfie in which she could be seen showing off her growing baby bump, pulling up her black shirt to flaunt her stomach, while grimacing at the camera.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
She married Steve in 1990, and they raised three boys in Bellevue, Wash. Son Pete Ballmer, a stand-up comedian, told the Cash Cuties podcast in 2024 that the family didn’t flaunt their wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
"Lots of other jewellery, lots of watches that they all seemed so happy to flaunt," Jane said.
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026
I passed the rest of that day trying to say less to my cousin, feeling put off by her hostility, but also wanting her to see me as genuine—not trying to flaunt some advantage.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Current dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel, whose wife flaunts luxury handbags, is booed in public.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Three years later, its year-end report flaunts another statistic: Vinyl record sales surpassed $1 billion in 2025 — the first time since 1983.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
That pricey pad is also where the “Gossip Girl” alum flaunts her fashion-forward wardrobe on Instagram, and from those pretty pics, we’ve gotten a peek at the rustic-cool spaces.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026
Similar to the Muscat flavor, the Pink Lemonade gummies include a fruit-filled, jelly center that flaunts Sicilian lemon and pink grapefruit flavors.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2025
I want to go to Duke, he flaunts Carolina Blue.
From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander
At times, it reminded me of John Carpenter’s little-seen, Lauren Hutton-starring 1978 film, “Someone’s Watching Me!,” an equally economical yet surprisingly stylish little TV movie that flaunted the still-budding horror legend’s early talents.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Young people around the world are snatching Adidas Tang-style jackets off the shelves, bingeing on Chinese micro-dramas and experimenting with powdery make-up looks flaunted by Chinese girls and women on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
Philadelphia’s loss to the Niners capped off a season when the Eagles lacked the offensive mojo they flaunted throughout last year’s Super Bowl run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
The continuation of U.S. intelligence support may not be flaunted but it’s hardly hidden.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
A great tree, fallen across one comer, leaned against the trees that still stood arid a rapid climber flaunted red and yellow sprays right to the top.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
A former kickboxer, he has millions of social media followers and has appeared in countless videos flaunting what appears to be an ultra-luxurious lifestyle.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
An overreliance on precious metals in the flaunting of one’s wealth can give the impression of protesting too much.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
After months of flaunting the ring on social media posts, Lipa confirmed the engagement to British Vogue in June 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
"Welcome to the Caribbean, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group!" the Southern Command posted on X, alongside a video flaunting the ship's capabilities.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
He dismissed them as “childish, vulgar, flaunting, or impertinent, out of place and discordant.”
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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