Definition: richly colored, relating to or having wavy lines or flame-like forms
Pronunciation: flam-BOY-ant
Origin:
Dating back to the 1830’s, this vivid adjective comes from the 15th and 16th centuries’ architectural style characterized by flame-like curves. This style was named so after the French flamboyant meaning flaming or wavy.
Why this word?
The real revelation about this word, and the post that I really wanted to purpose to you today, is the noun flamboyance which stands for showiness. Now, just a few days ago we had Prickle for a group of porcupines, so here’s me continuing in the same line: asides from showiness, this beautiful noun also represents a group of flamingos! I find this a beautiful word, and a beautiful representation. Personally, I can’t think of anything more colorful, showy and ornate than a group of flamingos and I love how this word came to represent this group exactly.
How to use the word in a sentence?
Flamboyant is an adjective describing anything vivid, full of beautiful details, richly elaborate and generally- attractive to the senses.
You can describe anything that fits using this word: a flamboyant speech, a flamboyant person or a flamboyant TV show!
And, of course, next time you’re at the zoo and looking at the flamboyant flamboyance- surprise your friends by saying exactly this!
