exotic
Exotic (adjective) means coming from a distant, foreign place and having an unusual or excitingly different quality. Example: “They served exotic fruits we'd never seen before.”
How to use exotic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnusual and interesting because it comes from somewhere far away or unfamiliar.
Word forms
more exotic comparative, exotics plural, most exotic superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They served _____ fruits we'd never seen before.
Etymology
From Greek exotikos, "foreign," literally "from outside," from exo- ("outside").
Related words
Rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include exotic: