Flaunt and flout look and sound similar, but they traditionally describe different actions.
You flaunt something when you display it openly or show it off, often because you want people to notice it. You flout something when you openly disregard or defy a rule, law, convention, or similar standard.
The confusion is understandable because both words can describe bold, noticeable behavior. There is also a modern usage complication: flaunt is sometimes used with the meaning traditionally associated with flout. Even so, keeping the two words separate is the clearest choice in careful US English.
Quick Answer
Use flaunt for something you display or show off:
She flaunted her new designer handbag.
Use flout for something you deliberately disregard or disobey:
The company flouted the safety regulations.
A simple memory rule is:
Flaunt = show off.
Flout = defy or disregard.
The distinction matters most when the object of the verb changes. A possession, achievement, or quality can be flaunted. A rule, law, regulation, or convention is normally flouted.
Why People Confuse Them
The two words differ by only one vowel, and their pronunciations are also close enough to cause confusion.
In American English, flaunt is commonly pronounced with the vowel sound in haunt, while flout has the vowel sound in out.
Their meanings can also occur in similarly dramatic situations. Someone might flaunt expensive clothing while flouting a dress code. The same person can do both things, but the verbs describe different actions.
There is one further complication. Dictionaries document a use of flaunt meaning to disregard something contemptuously. That usage developed through confusion with flout and remains disputed by some usage authorities.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Feature | Flaunt | Flout |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Display or show off | Openly disregard or defy |
| Typical object | Wealth, possessions, success, qualities | Rules, laws, regulations, conventions |
| Main idea | Making something noticeable | Refusing to respect something |
| Pronunciation | Like “flawnt” | Like “flowt” |
| Typical tone | Often boastful or showy | Often defiant or disrespectful |
Quick test: If you could replace the verb with “show off,” flaunt is probably right. If you could replace it with “openly disregard,” flout is usually the better choice.
Meaning and Usage Difference
Flaunt means to display something conspicuously or ostentatiously. It often involves something a person has, such as money, possessions, success, beauty, talent, or status.
Maya flaunted her new car at the neighborhood party.
The sentence focuses on Maya’s deliberate display of the car.
Flout means to openly disregard or disobey something that should normally be respected or followed. Common objects include rules, laws, regulations, conventions, and traditions.
The contractor was fined for flouting safety regulations.
The sentence focuses on deliberate disregard for the regulations.
The traditional distinction is therefore straightforward: you flaunt something you display; you flout something you disregard.
However, flaunt can also appear in published writing with the meaning of flout. Major dictionaries recognize this usage, while usage references note that many readers still prefer the traditional distinction.
Tone, Context, and Formality
Flaunt often carries a slightly negative suggestion of showing off. Someone may flaunt wealth, a promotion, expensive clothing, or physical attractiveness in a way that attracts attention.
It does not always express criticism, though. The familiar phrase “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” can be playful or approving.
Flout is more directly associated with defiance. It suggests that someone knowingly disregards a rule, convention, or expectation.
In formal, academic, professional, and carefully edited writing, flout is the safer choice when you mean “openly disregard.” That preserves the traditional distinction and avoids distracting readers who object to the crossover use of flaunt.
Which One Should You Use?
Use flaunt when the sentence is about displaying something:
- flaunt your wealth
- flaunt her talent
- flaunt his new watch
- flaunt their success
- flaunt a stylish outfit
Use flout when the sentence is about disregarding something:
- flout the law
- flout the rules
- flout company policy
- flout safety regulations
- flout convention
If you’re unsure, identify the object. Can it be displayed? Choose flaunt. Is it something that should be obeyed or respected? Choose flout.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
Consider:
The driver flaunted the speed limit.
If the intended meaning is that the driver deliberately ignored the speed limit, flouted is the traditional choice.
Now consider:
Jordan flouted his new sports car.
That does not work with the traditional meaning. Jordan is displaying the car, so flaunted is appropriate.
The crossover becomes more noticeable with phrases such as “flaunt the rules.” Although that wording occurs in real usage and is recognized in dictionaries, readers who maintain the traditional distinction may regard it as an error.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake: The company flaunted environmental regulations.
Better: The company flouted environmental regulations.
Mistake: She flouted her expensive handbag.
Better: She flaunted her expensive handbag.
Mistake: They flaunted the ban by reopening the store.
Better: They flouted the ban by reopening the store.
Mistake: He flouted his promotion on social media.
Better: He flaunted his promotion on social media.
A useful reminder is: possessions are flaunted; rules are flouted.
Everyday Examples
Here are natural examples of the distinction:
The influencer flaunted her new electric SUV online.
The SUV is being displayed.
The restaurant owner flaunted his award during the interview.
The award is being proudly displayed.
Several drivers continued to flout the parking restrictions.
The restrictions are being deliberately disregarded.
The employee was warned after flouting the company’s safety policy.
The policy is being ignored or disobeyed.
She didn’t flaunt her promotion, even though she was proud of it.
The promotion is something that could be displayed or shown off.
The store was criticized for flouting local regulations.
The regulations are something the store was expected to follow.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
- Flaunt: A verb meaning to display something openly or ostentatiously, often to attract attention or admiration.
- Flout: A verb meaning to openly disregard, defy, or disobey a rule, law, convention, or similar standard.
Both are commonly used transitively, as in flaunt her success and flout the rules.
Noun
- Flaunt: A noun flaunt exists, but it is uncommon in modern standard US usage. The verb is the form readers are most likely to encounter.
- Flout: The modern word is overwhelmingly encountered as a verb. A noun use exists historically, but it is not a normal everyday US-English choice.
Synonyms
- Flaunt: Closest plain alternatives include show off, display, parade, and boast, depending on the sentence.
- Flout: Closest plain alternatives include defy, disregard, disobey, and violate, depending on context.
These alternatives are not exact replacements in every sentence.
Example Sentences
- Flaunt: The athlete flaunted her championship medal during the interview.
- Flout: The company repeatedly flouted the industry’s safety standards.
Word History
Both words have long histories in English, but their origins are not equally certain.
Flaunt is generally treated as having an uncertain or unknown origin. Oxford’s etymological discussion notes that its precise origin remains unresolved.
Flout has been connected with historical words associated with mocking or jeering, including a possible Dutch connection. The exact history is more developed than flaunt‘s but still involves etymological uncertainty.
Phrases Containing
- Flaunt: “flaunt your wealth,” “flaunt your success,” and “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
- Flout: “flout the law,” “flout the rules,” “flout convention,” and “flout regulations.”
These common patterns make the distinction easier to recognize in real sentences.
FAQs
Is “flaunt the rules” correct?
Traditionally, “flout the rules” is the preferred form when you mean deliberately disregarding them. Flaunt is also documented with this meaning, but some readers and editors still consider that crossover usage incorrect or undesirable in careful writing.
Can “flaunt” mean “flout”?
Yes, flaunt is documented in dictionaries with a sense meaning to disregard or treat something contemptuously. However, this meaning arose through confusion with flout, and many careful writers continue to preserve the traditional distinction.
Are “flaunt” and “flout” interchangeable?
No, they are not safely interchangeable. Flaunt normally describes displaying something, while flout normally describes openly disregarding something. Substituting one for the other can make a sentence sound incorrect or change its intended meaning.
How are “flaunt” and “flout” pronounced?
In American English, flaunt has a vowel sound like haunt, while flout has the sound in out. The different vowels can help you recognize the words when speaking, although spelling and meaning remain the best guides.
Is “flaunt” always negative?
No. Flaunt often suggests showing off in a way that seems excessive, boastful, or attention-seeking, but it can also be playful or approving. The familiar expression “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” illustrates a more positive or humorous use.
What is the easiest way to remember the difference?
Think flaunt = display and flout = disregard. If you are talking about showing people something you have, use flaunt. If you are talking about openly ignoring a rule, law, convention, or standard, use flout.
Conclusion
The clearest traditional distinction is simple:
Flaunt means to display or show off.
Flout means to openly disregard or defy.
You can flaunt your success, flaunt your new car, or flaunt your style. You can flout a law, flout a rule, or flout a convention.
Although flaunt is sometimes used with the meaning of flout, that crossover remains a point of disagreement in careful usage. For clear US English, keeping the two words separate is the most straightforward approach.
