What does flabbergasted mean?
Flabbergasted is an informal adjective describing a state of overwhelming astonishment — the feeling of being so surprised or shocked that one is momentarily left speechless. It sits among the strongest expressions of amazement in everyday English, alongside words like astounded and dumbfounded, and typically carries a tone of comic or dramatic exaggeration rather than genuine distress. The word appears frequently in both British and American usage, in headlines, personal anecdotes, and conversation, usually in pairings such as 'utterly flabbergasted' or 'flabbergasted by the news'. Its origins are charmingly obscure: first recorded in the late 18th century, it is often thought to be a playful blend of 'flabby' and 'aghast', evoking the image of someone going limp with disbelief. Related forms include the verb flabbergast, meaning to astonish someone, which makes flabbergasted one of those rare English words whose history is nearly as entertaining as its use.
adjectiveOverwhelmed with astonishment; struck dumb with surprise or shock.
- Struck with overwhelming astonishment or amazement, often to the point of being speechless.
"She was utterly flabbergasted when her name was announced as the winner."
"The jurors sat flabbergasted as the verdict was read aloud."
"I was absolutely flabbergasted to find my old college roommate waiting at the airport."
This delightfully odd word is widely believed to be an 18th-century blend of 'flabby' and 'aghast' — the sound of someone so shocked they literally go limp with disbelief.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flabbergasted
Flabbergasted first appeared in written English in the late 18th century, with its exact origin unrecorded. The most widely cited theory holds that it was coined as a humorous blend of 'flabby' (limp or soft) and 'aghast' (filled with shock), capturing the image of a person rendered slack-jawed by surprise. The word spread from Britain into general English usage, and its derived verb form flabbergast followed shortly after. Because of its uncertain pedigree, no firm cognates in other languages can be identified with confidence.
Related word forms
How flabbergasted is actually used
Informal but widely accepted; conveys strong, often comic amazement rather than fear or horror. Common in both British and American English, especially in journalistic and everyday conversational contexts.
Easily confused with flabbergasted
Flabbergast is the verb form meaning to astonish someone, while flabbergasted is the adjective describing the state of being astonished.