flaunt
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to parade or display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly.
-
to wave conspicuously in the air.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
the act of flaunting.
-
Obsolete. something flaunted.
verb
-
to display (possessions, oneself, etc) ostentatiously; show off
-
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
flauntsimple
-
flauntssimple
-
have flauntedperfect
-
has flauntedperfect
-
am flauntingprogressive
-
are flauntingprogressive
-
is flauntingprogressive
-
have been flauntingperfect progressive
-
has been flauntingperfect progressive
Past
-
flauntedsimple
-
had flauntedperfect
-
was flauntingprogressive
-
were flauntingprogressive
-
had been flauntingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing flaunt
The Crossover
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!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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!
A Lesson Before Dying
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.
See Examples For:
Some purchases, like a mansion, have never lost their power to flaunt wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
"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
Swift pointed out that nobody wants a guest to commandeer a wedding speech to flaunt their own relationship news.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025
Silvers are supposed to fight bravely, to flaunt their skills, to put on a good show—but not die.
From "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard
That pricey pad is also where the “Gossip Girl” alum flaunts her fashion-forward wardrobe on Instagram, and from those pretty pics, we’ve gotten a peek at the rustic-cool spaces.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026
The Sheehans cast a vote against the Millionaires name on the grounds that it flaunts local wealth and gives the town a bad rap.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
Coming in second is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which flaunts an average restaurant rating of 3.5 stars.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2025
By contrast, Soho House proudly flaunts Bollywood star Ali Fazal, a member, on its in-house magazine cover.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2025
I want to go to Duke, he flaunts Carolina Blue.
From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander
At times, it reminded me of John Carpenter’s little-seen, Lauren Hutton-starring 1978 film, “Someone’s Watching Me!,” an equally economical yet surprisingly stylish little TV movie that flaunted the still-budding horror legend’s early talents.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Steinfeld flaunted her pregnancy during the awards circuit earlier this year, cradling her baby bump at the red carpet for the Golden Globe Awards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026
Young people around the world are snatching Adidas Tang-style jackets off the shelves, bingeing on Chinese micro-dramas and experimenting with powdery make-up looks flaunted by Chinese girls and women on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
The continuation of U.S. intelligence support may not be flaunted but it’s hardly hidden.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
Men and women flaunted wicked tattoos and piercings in crazy places, and most wore comfortable rather than trendy clothing.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
It used to be all about flaunting your wealth, Bradley said, but now it's all about showcasing your taste and vision.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
An overreliance on precious metals in the flaunting of one’s wealth can give the impression of protesting too much.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
To see her teammates Jordan Woolery keep flaunting her flashy slash line and Taylor Tinsley sharpening her wicked arsenal of pitches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
“It will beg the question of the senior staff, why are you here? Why do we need to promote you? Why do you need a raise when you’re flaunting things like that?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
When Bruce ran that stop sign, he was flouting the law and flaunting his new Harley. gantlet/gauntlet.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
