flâneur

American  

[flah-nœr] / flɑˈnœr /

noun

French.

plural

flâneurs

1. a person who lounges or strolls around in a seemingly aimless way; an idler or loafer.

   the flâneur, that cool, aloof observer of urban society.

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flâneur British  

/ flɑnœr /

noun

1. an idler or loafer

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Etymology

Origin of flâneur

First recorded in 1850–55; from French: literally, “loafer, idler, man about town,” equivalent to flân-, stem of flâner “to waste time” + -eur ( def. ); flânerie ( def. )

Example Sentences

The French future belonged to the flâneur, the man of sensibility, at home in the crowd.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their work has been seen as reflecting their vastly different personas—Manet the dashing, witty, impetuous flâneur; Morisot the reserved, intelligent and exceedingly decorous bourgeoise—through the lens of their separate worlds.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The Fact Checker” is narrated by a man holding the titular title who is, essentially, a flâneur: a literary type who wanders around his urban environment, observing and commenting on society from a somewhat detached position.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was the quintessential bohemian flâneur, just this extraordinary figure who you couldn’t miss walking up and down the streets.”

From New York Times

But George is no mere flâneur.

From Los Angeles Times