flirtatious
Americanadjective
-
given to flirtation
-
expressive of playful sexual invitation
a flirtatious glance
Other Word Forms
- flirtatiously adverb
- flirtatiousness noun
- nonflirtatious adjective
- nonflirtatiously adverb
- nonflirtatiousness noun
- unflirtatious adjective
- unflirtatiously adverb
- unflirtatiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of flirtatious
First recorded in 1825–35; flirtat(ion) + -ious
Explanation
When you're flirtatious, you have a playful kind of banter, especially with someone in whom you're romantically interested. Your heart will flutter if your crush gives you a flirtatious smile. You might expect two lovesick teenagers to be flirtatious with each other, while it's deeply embarrassing to watch your grandmother treat her favorite waiter in a flirtatious way. Don't take it too seriously, though — there's a lightheartedness to all flirtatious behavior. In fact, the unserious 16th-century meaning of flirt was "to flit inconstantly from object to object."
Vocabulary lists containing flirtatious
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.
Sean Duffy first appeared on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston,” where he was introduced as a flirtatious, conservative lumberjack/student hybrid.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
Several high profile clients, including singer Chappell Roan, quit the firm this week after it emerged he flew on Epstein's private plane and exchanged flirtatious emails with Maxwell in 2003.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
Employing a stagy New York accent, and saddled with a distractingly unfortunate blond wig, Ms. McCann delivers a long, discursive monologue both boastful and aggressively flirtatious.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025
While helping to clean up the champagne flutes and leftover cake, Miranda brings up the flirtatious spark she noticed between Carrie and Duncan, which Carrie resents.
From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025
Fanny Owen was petite and darkhaired; she was engaging, flirtatious, passionate, and maybe a bit wild.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
