flounce

¹

[flouns]

verb (used without object)

flounced, flouncing 

1. to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements.

   The star flounced out of the studio in a rage.

   Synonyms: bounce, prance, bound, storm

2. to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.

noun

1. an act or instance of flouncing; a flouncing movement.

flounce

²

[flouns]

noun

1. a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.

verb (used with object)

flounced, flouncing 

1. to trim with flounces.

flounce

¹

/ flaʊns /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about, away, out, etc) to move or go with emphatic or impatient movements

noun

1. the act of flouncing

flounce

²

/ flaʊns /

noun

1. an ornamental gathered ruffle sewn to a garment by its top edge

Word History and Origins

Origin of flounce¹

1535–45; of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry

Origin of flounce²

First recorded in 1665–75; alteration of obsolete frounce wrinkle

Word History and Origins

Origin of flounce¹

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flunsa to hurry, Swedish flunsa to splash

Origin of flounce²

C18: from Old French fronce wrinkle, from froncir to wrinkle, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

However, the colorful meadow-flower print of the fabric and the shocking flounce of pink tulle that had been unevenly stitched ’round the hem surely lent the garment a festive air.

Read more on Literature

Her dress was a cream-colored parfait of flounces and bows, but her expression, so gay and animated a moment before, was now furious and tight-lipped.

Read more on Literature

Incensed that Williams is falling down drunk at a stadium show, his Barlow flounces up in a thong to hiss, “You’re making us look like fools out there!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In fact, he was in one of the studios and we were in another studio the night that he flounced out.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

During the trial, Trump acted out whenever he attended, even flouncing out of the courtroom at one point.

Read more on Salon

When To Use

What else does flounce mean?

The internet slang term flounce means "to leave an online group in a dramatic manner," and may or may not involve burning a few bridges or stirring the pot on the way out.