Flamboyant, which was borrowed into English from French in the 19th century, can be traced back to Old French flambe, meaning "flame." In its earliest uses flamboyant referred to a style of architecture, often in the florid French Gothic style, which featured waving curves that suggested flames. Eventually, the word developed a more general second sense for anything eye-catching or showy. And of course, Old French flambe is also the origin of the English adjective flambé.
AdjectiveCrazy artists, or flamboyant ones, can be strangely comforting. We feel we understand where their visions come from; we're lulled by the symmetry of turbulent art and turbulent lives. Stephen Schiff, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 1992–4 Jan. 1993Equally flamboyant is the group's singer, Andy Bell, who prances around the stage dressed at various times like an astronaut, a space creature or a Mexican senorita. Jim Farber, Video Review, August 1990… he was living in the flamboyant, urbane manner he craved, in an apartment that suited his Balzacian fantasies of success … Raymond Sokolov, Wayward Reporter, 1980 the flamboyant gestures of the conductor has a gallery of flamboyant gestures that makes him easy to imitate
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The uniforms were not flamboyant like her runway designs, but tastefully professional, appropriate for their roles. Yuri Kageyama, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Their transformations from brown to green, dull to flamboyant, follow the rhythms of rain and fire, not the predictable march of the seasons. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 Russell remained in senior management positions at Nikola during the rise and eventual fall of flamboyant company founder and former CEO Trevor Milton, who faces federal securities-fraud charges in a trial scheduled for later this year. Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 11 Aug. 2022 De Waal’s naughty wink had grown more flamboyant, and the cast reveled in the extravagance of her expletive-laden song about the dress Diana wore to show up her romantic rival.New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 Likely the biggest decision for owners planning to attend track days will be choosing between Sport mode for a more flamboyant comportment and Corsa for quicker and less dramatic laps. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 8 July 2022 Through their smoldering collaboration, Kendrick acknowledged the 30 years of excellence Ghostface has put into the rap game, and the Clan’s most flamboyant swordsman also got the nod by the City of New York in honor of his legacy. Shaheem Reid, Billboard, 21 July 2022 Helmeted Valkyries in flamboyant costumes began to walk onto the small stage. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 For outsiders looking in, drag culture looks fun and flamboyant.Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
French, from present participle of flamboyer to flame, from Old French, from flambe