exhibitionist
exhibitionist Lexical Profile
exhibitionist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who behaves in an extravagant, flamboyant, or conspicuous way in order to attract attention to themselves.
"As a natural exhibitionist, he loved telling dramatic stories at the center of every dinner party."
A person with a psychological compulsion to expose their genitals or intimate body parts to unsuspecting strangers in public.
"The forensic psychiatrist evaluated the offender to determine whether he was a clinical exhibitionist."
• adjective
Relating to or characterized by extravagant, flamboyant, or attention-seeking behavior.
"The director's latest film was criticized for its exhibitionist camera work that distracted from the story."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday conversation, 'exhibitionist' simply refers to an outgoing person who craves the spotlight, whereas in psychology and law it carries a strict clinical meaning involving compulsive indecent exposure.
• Rhymes for exhibitionist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century from 'exhibition' and the suffix '-ist', traceably rooted in the Latin verb 'exhibere' ('to hold forth' or 'display'), from 'ex-' (out) and 'habere' (to hold).