flaunt
Americanverb (used without object)
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to parade or display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly.
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to wave conspicuously in the air.
verb (used with object)
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
- flaunter noun
- flauntingly adverb
- unflaunted adjective
- unflaunting adjective
- unflauntingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of flaunt
First recorded in 1560–70; of obscure origin; compare Norwegian dialect flanta “to show off”
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.
"Lots of other jewellery, lots of watches that they all seemed so happy to flaunt," Jane said.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
When she graduated last year, she dreamed of returning to Italy to flaunt her work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
We tracked the small hands on their social media accounts as they moved around Europe, often seeming to flaunt their wealth.
From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025
Goorwitch in particular is mourning the absence of his favorite peacock, Alibaba, who had a fabulous fan of tail feathers and was not afraid to flaunt them.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025
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
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.
