exotic

6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for exotic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Coming from a distant, foreign place and having an unusual or excitingly different quality.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

foreign unusual alien

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

striking unfamiliar

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

outlandish

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Coming from a distant, foreign place and having an unusual or excitingly different quality.

“The market sold exotic spices from far-off lands.”

foreign unusual striking alien unfamiliar outlandish

Opposites

native common plain

2. adjective

Not native to the local environment; introduced from elsewhere.

“Exotic birds released from cages now live wild in the city parks.”

Opposites

native

3. noun

An animal or plant that is not native to the area where it is found.

“The zoo keeps several exotics, including tropical lizards, in heated rooms.”

Opposites

native

How to use exotic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

exotic fruit exotic species exotic destination exotic pet

Etymology

From Greek exotikos, "foreign," literally "from outside," from exo- ("outside").

Full origin of exotic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “exotic” mean?

The word “exotic” means coming from a distant, foreign place and having an unusual or excitingly different quality. In plain terms, unusual and interesting because it comes from somewhere far away or unfamiliar.

How do you pronounce “exotic”?

“Exotic” is pronounced ihg-ZO-tihk (/ɪɡˈzɑtɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “exotic” in a sentence?

Here is “exotic” used in a sentence: “They served exotic fruits we'd never seen before.”

What part of speech is “exotic”?

Depending on how it is used, “exotic” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “exotic” come from?

The word “exotic” comes from Greek. From Greek exotikos, "foreign," literally "from outside," from exo- ("outside").

Is “exotic” a common word?

“Exotic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “exotic” have?

“Exotic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming from a distant, foreign place and having an unusual or excitingly different quality.

What is the difference between "exotic" and "foreign"?

"Foreign" simply means coming from another country, with a neutral tone. "Exotic" also means coming from a distant place, but it adds a sense of being unusual, striking, or excitingly different, so it carries more colour and appeal.

What is the difference between an "exotic" species and a "native" species?

An "exotic" species is not native to the local environment and has been introduced from elsewhere. A "native" species occurs naturally in the area; in this ecological sense "exotic" and "native" are opposites.

Does "exotic" always describe something from far away?

Not always. In everyday use "exotic" usually suggests something strikingly unusual or from a distant, foreign place. In biology, however, it simply means non-native, or introduced from elsewhere, even if that elsewhere is not especially far.

What nouns commonly go with "exotic"?

"Exotic" frequently describes words such as "animals", "plants", "species", "fruit", "flowers", "locations", and "destinations". Phrases like "exotic pets" and "exotic holidays" are common in everyday speech.

People also searched

common foreign native unusual plain alien striking unfamiliar outlandish

Nearby words

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