flagrant

/ˈfleɪɡrənt/ · FLAY-gruntadjective

Conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

Use flagrant to express this relationship precisely: conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

What flagrant Really Means

The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.

1

Core quality

Conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

Example

The report documents a flagrant violation of safety rules.

2

Attributive or predicative use

Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.

Example

Such flagrant bias undermines the analysis.

3

Analytical distinction

Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.

Example

The error was too flagrant to be accidental.

Use flagrant Naturally

Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.

The report documents a flagrant violation of safety rules.

Such flagrant bias undermines the analysis.

The error was too flagrant to be accidental.

Precision Matters

Flagrant overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.

flagrant

Means conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

vs.
conspicuous

Means easily noticed or attracting attention.

flagrant

Means conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

vs.
nefarious

Means wicked, immoral, or criminal.

flagrant

Means conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

vs.
explicit

Means stated directly and with complete clarity.

flagrant

Means conspicuously and obviously offensive, wrong, or unlawful.

vs.
censure

Means strong formal criticism or official disapproval.

Test flagrant in Context

The violation is obvious and seriously offensive.

1

Inventing data would be a ___ breach of research ethics.

Prepared byFirst Academy
Editorial responsibilityFirst Academy Academic Team
Updated3 August 2026
Selection and reviewRead our methodology