flagrant

adjective

fla·​grant ˈflā-grənt 

 also  ˈfla-

1

: conspicuously offensive

flagrant errors

especially : so obviously inconsistent with what is right or proper as to appear to be a flouting of law or morality

flagrant violations of human rights

2

archaic : fiery hot : burning

flagrantly adverb

Did you know?

In Latin, flagrare means "to burn," and flagrans means "burning" or "fiery hot" (both literally and figuratively). When it was first used in the 16th century, flagrant had the same meaning as flagrans, but by the 18th century it had acquired its current meaning of "conspicuously bad." Some usage commentators warn against using flagrant and blatant interchangeably. While both words denote conspicuousness, they are not exact synonyms. Blatant is usually used of some person, action, or thing that attracts disapproving attention (e.g., "a blatant grammatical error"). Flagrant is used similarly, but usually carries a heavier weight of violated morality (e.g., "flagrant abuse of public office").

Synonyms

• blatant
• conspicuous
• egregious
• glaring
• gross
• obvious
• patent
• pronounced
• rank
• striking

Choose the Right Synonym for flagrant

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable.

flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned.

flagrant abuse of the office of president

glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper.

glaring errors

gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits.

gross carelessness

rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned.

rank heresy

Examples of flagrant in a Sentence

flagrant abuse of the law

her flagrant disregard for other people's rights

Recent Examples on the Web

On Sunday, June 2, the league upgraded Carter’s foul on Clark — which happened in the third quarter of Saturday’s game — from a common foul to a flagrant 1 violation. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 June 2024

Instead, we are subjected to multiday discourse over a flagrant foul. —Shakeia Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2024

Carter’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant foul by the WNBA on Sunday. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2024

To the contrary, Western interlocutors are convinced that the combination of Russia’s Ukraine quagmire and China’s flagrant aggression on the Sino-Indian border makes the time ripe to wean India off its addiction to Russian arms and consolidate its anti-China posture. —Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin flagrant-, flagrans, present participle of flagrare to burn — more at black entry 1

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

flagrant

adjective

fla·​grant ˈflā-grənt 

: so bad as to be impossible to overlook : outrageous

a flagrant lie

flagrantly adverb