Conspicuous

/kənˈspɪk.ju.əs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
Standing out so as to be clearly visible; attracting notice or attention.
Her bright red dress made her conspicuous in the crowd.
Easily seen or noticed; obvious.
The conspicuous errors in the report were hard to miss.
Obvious to the eye or mind.
There was a conspicuous lack of interest in the topic among the attendees.

Etymology

From Latin conspicuus, from conspicere 'to look at, to see'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

conspicuous by one's absence
To be noticeably absent from a gathering or event.
conspicuous consumption
The spending of money on and the acquiring of luxury goods to publicly display economic power.
a conspicuous success
A success that is very noticeable or apparent.

Related Words

conspicuity
The quality of being conspicuous or easily seen.
conspicuously
In a way that is easily seen or noticed.
inconspicuous
Not clearly visible or attracting attention.

Slang Meanings

Standing out for negative reasons, e.g., drawing unwanted attention.
He made a conspicuous error that everyone noticed.
Overly flashy or showy.
That outfit is too conspicuous for a casual event.