flaunt

verb

ˈflȯnt 

ˈflänt

flaunted; flaunting; flaunts

intransitive verb

1

: to display or obtrude oneself to public notice

a great flaunting crowd

—Charles Dickens

2

: to wave or flutter showily

the flag flaunts in the breeze

transitive verb

1

: to display ostentatiously or impudently : parade

flaunting his superiority

a chance to flaunt clothes, bodies, and sexuality

—New Yorker

2

: to treat contemptuously

flaunted the rules

—Louis Untermeyer

flaunt noun

flauntingly

ˈflȯn-tiŋ-lē 

ˈflän-

adverb

flaunty

ˈflȯn--tē 

ˈflän-

adjective

Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide

Although the "treat contemptuously" sense of flaunt undoubtedly arose from confusion with flout, the contexts in which it appears cannot be called substandard.

meting out punishment to the occasional mavericks who operate rigged games, tolerate rowdyism, or otherwise flaunt the law

—Oscar Lewis

observed with horror the flaunting of their authority in the suburbs, where men … put up buildings that had no place at all in a Christian commonwealth

—Marchette Chute

in our profession … very rarely do we publicly chastise a colleague who has flaunted our most basic principles

—R. T. Blackburn, AAUP Bull.

If you use it, however, you should be aware that many people will consider it a mistake. Use of flout in the sense of "flaunt, parade" is found occasionally.

"The proper pronunciation," the blonde said, flouting her refined upbringing, "is pree feeks"

—Mike Royko

Synonyms

• display
• disport
• exhibit
• expose
• flash
• lay out
• parade
• produce
• show
• show off
• sport
• strut
• unveil

Choose the Right Synonym for flaunt

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention.

show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Examples of flaunt in a Sentence

She liked to flaunt her wealth by wearing furs and jewelry.

They openly flaunted the rules.

Recent Examples on the Web

But these Beverly Hills bad boys went even further, shocking the public by going on a luxury spending spree shortly after their parents' deaths—splurging on luxury items, buying businesses, and flaunting their inheritance. —Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

The video continues with the rapper flaunting her physically fit frame and delivering the song’s defiant lyrics. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2024

When the global recession hit in 2008, a show that started off flaunting immense wealth suddenly had to grapple with the reality that some of its cast might be falling out of the one percent. —Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024

Envisioned by Diesel creative director Glenn Martens and Rihanna, the campaign depicts a cast of real Italian characters on Tuscan beaches, flaunting body acceptance and freedom. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flana to rush around

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing flaunt

• if you've got it, flaunt it

Kids Definition

flaunt

verb

ˈflȯnt 

ˈflänt

1

: to wave or flutter in a showy way

a flag flaunting in the breeze

2

: to make a big show of : parade

flaunting their knowledge