flamboyant
Americanadjective
-
strikingly bold or brilliant; showy.
flamboyant colors.
-
conspicuously dashing and colorful.
the flamboyant idol of international society.
-
florid; ornate; elaborately styled.
flamboyant speeches.
-
Architecture.
-
having the form of an ogee, as a bar of tracery.
-
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
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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flamboyant
1825–35; < French, present participle of flamboyer to flame, flair, derivative of Old French flambe flame; see -ant
Explanation
Flamboyant means elaborate and ostentatious. When you think of flamboyant, think of Las Vegas showgirls: feathers, sequins, three-inch heels, enough make-up to disguise any irregularity. Flamboyant means showy, and though we often roll our eyes at it, it's not a hateful thing. Liberace was flamboyant. So was Elvis. The word comes from the French flamboyer, to flame. Think of passion and pageantry all rolled into one, and you'll have a good idea what flamboyant should mean at its best. If that doesn't do it for you, think of a man playing a shiny white grand piano at a rock concert, wearing a white satin jump suit and 8-foot wide, fully-feathered wings. See? Flamboyant.
Vocabulary lists containing flamboyant
George H.W. Bush (1924 -2018) Tribute List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary: A Rapper's Delight!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network said Wednesday.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
“What we didn’t like about progressive rock was that it was too flamboyant without substance,” Pack told The Times in 1999.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
Proud, flamboyant ridiculousness is all over Mr. Jacobs’s work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
The apparent multi-millionaire loved high fashion, and wore flamboyant designer clothes while walking her Italian greyhounds.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
The last of the first-class passengers to be interviewed—Mr. Hardman—was the big flamboyant American who had shared a table with the Italian and the valet.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
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.
