flaunt

Meaning

Verb

1. To wave or flutter smartly in the wind.
2. To parade, display with ostentation.
3. To show off, as with flashy clothing.

Noun

Anything displayed for show.

Synonyms

show off

parade

display

boast

swank

flash

strut

swagger

vaunt

pose

ostentate

exhibit

brag

sport

brandish

showy

gaudy

advertise

make a show

brave

conceited

crowing

defy

demonstrate

open

ostentatious

pompous

pretentious

prolong

proud

shake

swing

wave

👋

wield

make a show of

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flɔːnt/

Etymology

Cognate with Norwegian: flanta

Cognate with Icelandic: flana

Cognate with French: flâner

Cognate with Swedish: flankt

Cognate with English: flaunt-a-flaunt

Cognate with Middle English: flacken

In summary

Of North Germanic origin. Perhaps related to Norwegian flanta (“to show off, wander about”), Icelandic flana (“to rush about, act rashly or heedlessly”) and then also to French flâner (“to wander around, loiter”).
Alternatively, it could be related to Swedish flankt (“loosely, flutteringly”) (compare English flaunt-a-flaunt), from flanka (“waver, hang and wave about, ramble”), a nasalised variant of flakka (“to waver”), related to Middle English flacken (“to move to and fro, flutter, palpitate”). See flack.