flaunt

FLAHNT/flɑnt/SayFLAWNTUK/flɔːnt//flɔnt/

Formsflaunts, flaunting, flaunted

Often confused with flout

5 meanings of flaunt

1
verbtransitive
To show something off so that everyone will notice it.
He likes to flaunt his new phone at school.
She flaunted her gold medal at every family dinner.
Similarparade, display, brandish, exhibit
Oppositehide, conceal
Note
2
verbtransitive
To openly break or ignore a rule as if it does not matter.
"They just flaunt the rules and nobody stops them," my neighbor complained.
"You can't keep flaunting the dress code, Jake," the manager said.
Similarflout, defy, ignore, disregard
Oppositeobey, observe
Note
3
verbarchaicintransitive
To show yourself off, for example by wearing bright, fancy clothes.
The rich girls flaunt in their new dresses at every party.
One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade.
1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man.Here, flaunts means shows off, making a showy display of oneself.
Note

Less common meanings

4
verbarchaicintransitive
To wave or move quickly in the wind, like a flag.
Bright banners flaunt in the wind over the fair.
Flaunt away, flags of all nations! be duly lower’d at sunset!
1892, Walt Whitman, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”Here, flaunt means to wave and flutter in the wind.
Note
5
nounobsolete
Something you show off, like fancy clothes.
Should I , in these my borrow'd flaunts, behold The sternness of his presence?
c. 1610, William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”Here, flaunts means fancy clothes worn for show.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–5

It comes from a North Germanic language. It may be linked to Norwegian and Icelandic words about showing off or rushing about.

Meaning 2

This use comes from people mixing up flaunt and flout.