adj
flagrant
FLAY-gruhnt
Flagrant (adj) means Shockingly obvious and clearly wrong; blatant. Example: “It was a flagrant violation of the rules.”
adj
1
Shockingly obvious and clearly wrong; blatant.
"It was a flagrant violation of the rules."
"The referee called a flagrant foul."
How to use flagrant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo obviously wrong or offensive that it can't be ignored or excused.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "fragrant" (having a pleasant smell) — the words look similar but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flagrant violation
flagrant disregard
flagrant foul
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more flagrant
- Superlative
- most flagrant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ violation of the rules.
Etymology
From Latin flagrantem, "burning, blazing," the present participle of flagrare, "to burn" — the sense shifted from literal burning to "glaringly obvious," as if blazing for all to see.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for flagrant
See all rhymes for flagrant →Frequently asked questions
What does “flagrant” mean?
The word “flagrant” means shockingly obvious and clearly wrong; blatant. In plain terms, so obviously wrong or offensive that it can't be ignored or excused.
How do you pronounce “flagrant”?
“Flagrant” is pronounced FLAY-gruhnt (/ˈfleɪ.ɡɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “flagrant” in a sentence?
Here is “flagrant” used in a sentence: “It was a flagrant violation of the rules.”
What part of speech is “flagrant”?
“Flagrant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “flagrant” come from?
The word “flagrant” comes from Latin. From Latin flagrantem, "burning, blazing," the present participle of flagrare, "to burn" — the sense shifted from literal burning to "glaringly obvious," as if blazing for all to see.
