flamboyant

[flam-boi-uh nt]

See more synonyms for flamboyant on Thesaurus.com

adjective

strikingly bold or brilliant; showy: flamboyant colors.
conspicuously dashing and colorful: the flamboyant idol of international society.
florid; ornate; elaborately styled: flamboyant speeches.

Architecture.
1. having the form of an ogee, as a bar of tracery.
2. noting or pertaining to French Gothic architecture of the late 15th and early and middle 16th centuries, characterized by the use of flamboyant tracery, intricacy of detailing, virtuosity of workmanship, attenuation of parts, and frequent complication of interior space.

noun

royal poinciana.

Origin of flamboyant

1825–35; < French, present participle of flamboyer to flame, flair, derivative of Old French flambe flame; see -ant

Related formsflam·boy·ance, flam·boy·an·cy, nounflam·boy·ant·ly, adverbun·flam·boy·ant, adjectiveun·flam·boy·ant·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for flamboyant

splashy, glamorous, bombastic, colorful, brilliant, dazzling, flashy, ornate, swashbuckling, gaudy, swank, camp, flaming, chichi, rich, baroque, rococo, dashing, elaborate, exciting

Examples from the Web for flamboyant

Contemporary Examples of flamboyant

A flamboyant, multi-titled, multiply married royal to remember, the Duchess of Alba died Thursday at the age of 88.
Adiós to the Diva Duchess
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 20, 2014
Because when the biggest global demonstration is a broadcaster wearing a flamboyant article of clothing, more must be done.
‘To Russia With Love’: Can Johnny Weir Save Russia’s Gays?
Kevin Fallon
October 29, 2014
Air Asia is run by a flamboyant character called Tony Fernandez.
Malaysia Airlines Is Going Down
Clive Irving
August 1, 2014
Whether Newark chooses the moderate and measured Jeffries or the fiery and flamboyant Baraka, there is cause for optimism.
The Leak of a Mysterious Video Could Change the Outcome of Newark’s Mayor’s Race
Charles Upton Sahm
May 5, 2014
The most flamboyant of America's weenies, the Sonoran hot dog, has a murky genealogy.
El Guero Canelo Serves Tucson’s Most Mexcellent Hot Dog
Jane & Michael Stern
March 30, 2014

Historical Examples of flamboyant

Only, there was an over-elaboration, so that the ensemble was flamboyant.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
There was no forgetting the flamboyant brilliancy of her apparel.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
It was flamboyant and showy; cheap, and tawdrily pretentious.
St. Martin's Summer
Rafael Sabatini
They sent off telegrams of the most flamboyant kind about our Puritan forefathers.
The Red Hand of Ulster
George A. Birmingham
The apse is flamboyant, as are also the windows of the south transept.
The Cathedrals of Northern France
Francis Miltoun

British Dictionary definitions for flamboyant

flamboyant

adjective

elaborate or extravagant; florid; showy
rich or brilliant in colour; resplendent
exuberant or ostentatious
of, denoting, or relating to the French Gothic style of architecture characterized by flamelike tracery and elaborate carving

noun

another name for royal poinciana

Derived Formsflamboyance or flamboyancy, nounflamboyantly, adverb

Word Origin for flamboyant

C19: from French: flaming, from flamboyer to flame

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for flamboyant

adj.

1832, first used of a 15c.-16c. architectural style with flame-like curves, from French flamboyant "flaming, wavy," present participle of flamboyer "to flame," from Old French flamboier (12c.), from flambe "flame," from flamble, variant of flamme, from Latin flammula (see flame (n.)). Extended sense of "showy, ornate" is 1879. Related: Flamboyantly.