flagrant

[fley-gruhnt]

adjective

1. shockingly noticeable or evident; obvious; glaring.

   a flagrant error.

2. notorious; scandalous.

   a flagrant crime; a flagrant offender.

   Synonyms: egregious, monstrous, disgraceful

3. Archaic.,  blazing, burning, or glowing.

flagrant

/ ˈfleɪɡrənt /

adjective

1. openly outrageous

2. obsolete,  burning or blazing

Other Word Forms

• flagrancy noun
• flagrance noun
• flagrantness noun
• flagrantly adverb
• nonflagrance noun
• nonflagrancy noun
• nonflagrant adjective
• nonflagrantly adverb
• unflagrant adjective
• unflagrantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagrant¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin flagrant- (stem of flagrāns ), present participle of flagrāre “to burn”; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagrant¹

C15: from Latin flagrāre to blaze, burn

Synonym Study

Flagrant, glaring, gross, outrageous, rank are adjectives suggesting extreme offensiveness. Flagrant, with a root sense of flaming or flaring, suggests evil or immorality so evident that it cannot be ignored or overlooked: a flagrant violation of the law. Glaring, meaning “shining brightly,” is similar to flagrant in emphasizing conspicuousness but usually lacks the imputation of immorality: a glaring error in computing the interest. Gross, which basically signifies excessive size, is even more negative in implication than the foregoing two terms, suggesting a mistake or impropriety of major proportions: a gross miscarriage of justice. Outrageous describes acts so far beyond the limits of decent behavior or accepted standards as to be totally insupportable: an outrageous abuse of the public trust. Rank, with its suggestion of bad odor, describes open offensiveness of the most objectionable kind, inviting total and unalloyed disapprobation: rank dishonesty, stinking to high heaven; Only rank stupidity would countenance such a step.

Example Sentences

In striking down that requirement, Chief Justice John Roberts ruled that “no one can fairly say” that the South “shows anything approaching the ‘pervasive,’ ‘flagrant,’ ‘widespread,’ and ‘rampant’ discrimination that faced Congress in 1965.”

From Salon

It said the rescuers had been performing humanitarian work, wearing uniforms, and driving marked vehicles, and that the attack constituted a flagrant violation of international law.

From BBC

In a statement on Saturday, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called California's new legislation "despicable" and a "flagrant attempt to endanger our officers".

From BBC

Doha has condemned Israel's attack as "cowardly" and a "flagrant violation of international law".

From BBC

In the wake of the strike, Qatar condemned Israel's attack as "cowardly" and a "flagrant violation of international law".

From BBC

Related Words

• atrocious 
• bold 
• brazen 
• conspicuous 
• disgraceful 
• egregious 
• glaring 
• heinous 
• notorious 
• obvious 
• outrageous 
• shameful 
• shameless 
• shocking 
• undisguised