flaunt

American  

[flawnt] / flɔnt /

verb (used without object)

1. to parade or display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly.

2. to wave conspicuously in the air.

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verb (used with object)

1. to parade or display ostentatiously.

   to flaunt one's wealth.

   Synonyms:

   vaunt, exhibit, flourish

2. to ignore or treat with disdain.

   He was expelled for flaunting military regulations.

noun

1. the act of flaunting.

2. Obsolete. something flaunted.

flaunt British  

/ flɔːnt /

verb

1. to display (possessions, oneself, etc) ostentatiously; show off

2. to wave or cause to wave freely; flutter

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noun

1. the act of flaunting

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”

Explanation

Flaunt is "to display proudly or show off," like when you flaunt your new Italian leather jacket by wearing it to the beach and pretending you're cold to make sure everyone sees it. Although we love it when a peacock flaunts his colorful feathers, when a person does the same thing we feel bad. Flaunt is like bragging, which can bum people out because they don't have whatever you're showing off, like that cool jacket. When rich people flaunt their wealth by speeding past you in their limo, they may as well splash a mud puddle on your white clothes. Leave the flaunting for peacocks and stars in bad reality TV shows.

Example Sentences

Rukaiya Kamba, the creative director of Nigerian brand Flaunt Archive, said the decision to present her collection in Paris came from a "very intentional place".

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

“I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained from being in the business,” she recently told Flaunt.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

"I think everything about my lifestyle is fairly alternative," she told Flaunt Magazine back in 2013.

From Fox News • Nov. 4, 2021

She was interviewed, and she demonstrated her talent, singing “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It,” from “The Producers.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 1, 2015

All night, he kept yelling, “Flaunt it, baby! Flaunt it!” which is his favorite line from his favorite movie, The Producers.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Related Words

• advertise
• brandish
• proclaim