What does flaunting mean?
'Flaunting' refers to the act of displaying something in an open, ostentatious manner designed to attract notice — whether wealth, beauty, possessions, accomplishments, or even defiance of convention. As the present participle of the verb 'flaunt', it appears in sentences like 'she arrived flaunting a designer handbag' or 'he was flaunting the rules without apology.' The word almost always carries a disapproving or critical edge: to say someone is flaunting something implies the display is excessive, tasteless, or shameless rather than simply confident. It should not be confused with 'flout', which means to openly disregard a rule or law — a mix-up so common that editors routinely flag it. 'Flaunting' remains a vivid, useful word for describing conspicuous display in everyday speech, journalism, and social commentary alike.
Displaying something ostentatiously or conspicuously in order to attract attention or admiration.
"He walked into the party flaunting his new watch."
Almost always carries a negative or disapproving connotation.
The act or practice of ostentatious display.
"The constant flaunting of wealth grew tiresome."
People have been mixing up 'flaunt' and 'flout' for so long that style guides have entire sections devoted to untangling them — one word shows off, the other thumbs its nose.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flaunting
'Flaunt' first appeared in English in the early 17th century, but its ultimate origin remains genuinely obscure — scholars have proposed derivations from Scandinavian sources, from the French 'flaucher', and even from a blend involving 'flout' and 'vaunt', none of which has been conclusively proven. Whatever its murky beginnings, the word quickly settled into its modern sense of showy, conspicuous display by the mid-17th century. Because its etymology is uncertain, confident claims about specific linguistic relatives should be treated with caution.
Related word forms
How flaunting is actually used
'Flaunting' carries a distinctly negative or at least disapproving connotation in most contexts — it implies not merely displaying something but doing so brazenly or tastelessly. The verb is most often used reflexively or with possessives ('flaunting her success'). Note that the common phrase 'if you've got it, flaunt it' reflects a more playful, permissive attitude toward the behaviour than typical usage of the word itself.
Easily confused with flaunting
'Flaunt' means to show something off openly, while 'flout' means to openly disregard or mock a rule or convention — the two are frequently mixed up despite entirely different meanings.