ex·ot·ic
ig-ˈzä-tik 
1
: introduced from another country : not native to the place where found
exotic plants
… exotic species creating havoc when introduced into new environments.—
Chemical & Engineering News
Chemical & Engineering News2
: strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual
exotic flavors
Until very recently the alpaca was an exotic sight at county fairs and petting zoos in the metropolitan region.—Glenn Collins
Glenn Collins3
: of or relating to striptease : involving or featuring exotic dancers
exotic dancing
an exotic nightclub
plural exotics
Examples of exotic in a Sentence
Adjective
She's known for her exotic tastes.
the gradual disappearance of exotic lands in a culturally homogenized world
Noun
Some native species are being crowded out by exotics.
the botanical garden boasts an array of horticultural exotics from around the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
To spot the exact moment water turns into exotic ice, scientists used powerful X-ray beams at a synchrotron.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
European exotics were also present.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exotic
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Adjective
Wisconsin is one of only a few states in the country that do not ban the private ownership of wild or exotic animals, Gengler said.
—Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
To spot the exact moment water turns into exotic ice, scientists used powerful X-ray beams at a synchrotron.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Native to Brazil and other South American and Central American countries, colorful peacock bass were stocked in South Florida canals in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to control the population of undesirable exotics like tilapia.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
European exotics were also present.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exotic
Cite this Entry
“Exotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exotic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exotic
1 of 2 adjective
ex·ot·ic
ig-ˈzät-ik
1
: introduced from another country
exotic plants
2
: very different or unusual
exotic colors
exotic
2 of 2 noun
: something (as a plant) that is exotic
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