flout
Americanverb (used with object)
-
flouts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flouted,
past participle, past
-
flouting
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
flouts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flouted,
past participle, past
-
flouting
present participle
noun
verb
Commonly Confused
See flaunt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
floutsimple
-
floutssimple
-
have floutedperfect
-
has floutedperfect
-
am floutingprogressive
-
are floutingprogressive
-
is floutingprogressive
-
have been floutingperfect progressive
-
has been floutingperfect progressive
Past
-
floutedsimple
-
had floutedperfect
-
was floutingprogressive
-
were floutingprogressive
-
had been floutingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flout
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English flouten “to play the flute” ( see flute); compare Dutch fluiten “to play the flute, talk smoothly, soothe, blandish, impose upon, jeer”
Explanation
To flout is to scorn or show contempt for. "I flout the law and the concept of civilian safety by making a concerted effort to jaywalk every time I cross a street." Oddly enough, when flout came into existence in the 1550s, it had a much different sense to it than it does now; it's believed that it evolved from the Middle English flowten, “to play the flute." These days, the verb flout means "to scorn," as in to scorn a law, person, or social norm by defying it. As a noun, it is a contemptuous remark or insult. Wrote William Shakespeare, “Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em and flout 'em; Thought is free.”
Vocabulary lists containing flout
Much Ado About Nothing
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!
30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "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!
The Tempest
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:
She believes that if all the signs point to a partner-less destiny anyway, then she may as well flout the dictates of her mother and the marriage mart.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
Those are the conventions and rulings that Feiglin and others now openly flout and disregard.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Drivers who flout the rules can be fined $490, according to Caltrans, the body that operates the state's freeways.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
But never before have so many Iranians been willing to flout the Islamic Republic’s social rules at the same time, say residents and analysts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025
Where is your shelter if some stiff gale blows up from south or west— 370 the winds that break up shipping every time when seamen flout the lord gods’ will?
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
It flouts the single most important rule of investing, which is to make sure you are diversified; at least 60% U.S. stocks and 40% international stocks would be better.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 4, 2025
The second, equally obvious problem with the state’s argument is that it flouts the rules for holding a statute unconstitutional.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024
A publication that flouts those rules risks being held “in contempt of court,” which can be punished with a fine or prison sentence.
From New York Times ● May 16, 2024
“It is essential that an elected sheriff be held accountable when he flouts oversight subpoenas,” Kennedy told The Times on Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 14, 2024
Keegan’s problem is that he flouts another principle of coherence in writing, the last one we will visit in this chapter.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Sentencing, Judge Huw Rees said these examinations should have been performed by qualified doctors and Eburne flouted the rules in a "brazen" manner.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
In recent years, however, the company has repeatedly flouted regulators and the legal process.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology, restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
“He flouted the lawful authority of the FDA and deliberately deceived the public by repackaging low-quality, foreign-made test kits at a time when accuracy and reliability were critical,” Grant said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026
I had flouted the king’s laws all my life.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
They said the focus likely will be on companies hyping AI businesses without having actual technology advantages, using overseas operations to skirt domestic regulations, or flouting Beijing’s orders against price wars.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
Several commissioners said they were troubled by the continued instances of officers flouting the department’s rules on the use of body cameras, and asked for a report back about whether the problem is more widespread.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
The U.S. faced new enemies: regional autocratic powers pursuing weapons of mass destruction, sponsoring terrorism, abusing human rights, and flouting international law.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
But speaking to CBS programme Face the Nation on Sunday, Massie suggested that the justice department was "flouting the spirit and the letter of the law".
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
Someone had rigged up a sling for those without the Wraith’s particular gift for flouting gravity.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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.
