adjective

flamboyant

/flæmˈbɔɪənt/ · say it: flam·BOY·uhnt

showy and confident in manner

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) very bright, colorful, or showy in a way that attracts attention

2. (adjective) behaving in a confident, exaggerated, or theatrical way to attract attention

Examples

1. She wore a flamboyant red dress with gold sequins to the party.
2. He has a flamboyant personality and loves to tell dramatic stories.

How to use flamboyant

Flamboyant describes something that is intentionally eye-catching and elaborate, whether in appearance or behavior. It often carries a slightly disapproving tone when applied to people, suggesting excessive theatricality or attention-seeking, though it can be used more neutrally for fashion or design. It differs from ostentatious in being more about visual spectacle and performance than wealth display.

Common phrases

flamboyant style
flamboyant personality
flamboyant colors
flamboyant dresser
flamboyant gesture

Synonyms

ostentatious · showy · extravagant · theatrical · gaudy

Opposites

understated · subdued · modest

Word family

flamboyance (noun) · flamboyantly (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use flamboyant to mean simply 'colorful' or 'bright' without the connotation of deliberate attention-seeking or exaggeration that the word implies.

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