adj
Uncommon
blatant
BLAY-tuhnt
Blatant (adj) means Completely obvious and unashamed, especially about something wrong. Example: “It was a blatant lie, and everyone in the room knew it.”
adj
1
Completely obvious and unashamed, especially about something wrong.
"It was a blatant lie, and everyone in the room knew it."
"The referee ignored a blatant foul right in front of him."
How to use blatant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo obvious it can't be missed or excused, often used about bad behaviour done openly.
Common mistake
Blatant almost always carries a negative judgment — you wouldn't call a kind act "blatant."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
blatant lie
blatant disregard
blatantly obvious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more blatant
- Superlative
- most blatant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ lie, and everyone in the room knew it.
Etymology
Coined by the poet Edmund Spenser in 1596 for his monstrous "blatant beast," likely inspired by "bleat" — the idea of something loudly and harshly sounding off.
Class of 1596
blatant joined the language around 1596.
See the full Class of 1596 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for blatant
See all rhymes for blatant →Frequently asked questions
What does “blatant” mean?
The word “blatant” means completely obvious and unashamed, especially about something wrong. In plain terms, so obvious it can't be missed or excused, often used about bad behaviour done openly.
How do you pronounce “blatant”?
“Blatant” is pronounced BLAY-tuhnt (/ˈbleɪtənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “blatant” in a sentence?
Here is “blatant” used in a sentence: “It was a blatant lie, and everyone in the room knew it.”
What part of speech is “blatant”?
“Blatant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “blatant” come from?
The word “blatant” dates back to around 1596. Coined by the poet Edmund Spenser in 1596 for his monstrous "blatant beast," likely inspired by "bleat" — the idea of something loudly and harshly sounding off.
Is “blatant” a common word?
“Blatant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
