flounce

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈflau̇n(t)s 

flounced; flouncing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move with exaggerated jerky or bouncy motions

flounced about the room, jerking her shoulders, gesticulating

—Agatha Christie

also : to move so as to draw attention to oneself

flounced into the lobby

b

: to go with sudden determination

flounced out in a huff

2

: flounder, struggle

flounce

2 of 4

noun (1)

: an act or instance of flouncing

moved with a flounce

flounce

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a strip of fabric attached by one edge

also : a wide ruffle

flounce

4 of 4

verb (2)

flounced; flouncing

transitive verb

: to trim with flounces

Did you know?

The story behind flounce is an elusive one. The verb's earliest recorded uses in English occurred in the mid-1500s, and some scholars believe it is related to the Norwegian verb flunsa (meaning "to hurry" or "to work briskly") and Swedish flunsa ("to fall with a splash" or "to plunge"). The connection is uncertain, however, because the flunsa verbs did not appear in their respective languages until the 18th century, long after flounce surfaced in English. A second distinct sense of flounce, referring to a strip or ruffle of fabric attached on one edge, did not appear in English until the 18th century. This flounce derives from the Middle English frouncen, meaning "to curl."

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• edging
• ruffle
• border
• skirting
• fringe
• trim
• frill

Examples of flounce in a Sentence

Noun (2)

a prom dress with small flounces along the hem

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But Rider also wove in references to his own past — an argyle jumper could have come straight out of a Ralph Lauren collection, while flounced hems on a knit cardigan recalled Balenciaga’s cocoon shapes during Rider’s time working under designer Nicolas Ghesquière in the early noughties. —Alice Pfeiffer, CNN Money, 7 July 2025

Floating around London’s Chelsea Flower Show as dusk is about to fall, the air is thick, the herbal scents of salvia and geranium offset by the minty nepeta and the flouncing citrus sucker punch of verbana. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 June 2025

Noun

The flounce hem is feminine and fun, adding just enough interest to take this from plain to chic. —Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 9 July 2025

The 9-year-old royal stepped out in a sleeveless ivory dress featuring a pleated bodice, flounce hem and black ruffle piping that traced the neckline and sleeves — a prim but playful silhouette that nodded to her growing style consistency. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry

Verb (2)

alteration of earlier frounce, from Middle English frouncen to curl

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1583, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1713, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1711, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flounce

• bounce
• ounce
• pounce
• announce
• denounce
• pronounce
• renounce

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Kids Definition

flounce

1 of 4 verb

ˈflau̇n(t)s 

flounced; flouncing

1

: to move with exaggerated jerky motions

2

: to go with sudden determination

flounced out of the room in anger

flounce

2 of 4 noun

: an act or instance of flouncing

flounce

3 of 4 verb

flounced; flouncing

: to trim with flounces

flounce

4 of 4 noun

: a strip of fabric attached by the upper edge

Etymology

Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin

Verb

an altered form of earlier frounce "to trim with ruffles," from Middle English frouncen "to curl"