Vocabulary C1 6 min read Updated 15 June 2026

Quick Answer

Flaunt (/flɔːnt/) means to show off or display something proudly to attract attention — you flaunt your wealth, beauty, or success. Flout (/flaʊt/) means to openly defy or break a rule, law, or convention with contempt — you flout the rules. The classic error is writing “flaunt the rules” when you mean “flout the rules.”

Flaunt and flout are among the most commonly confused verbs in English. They look alike on the page and both have negative or boastful overtones, but their meanings have nothing in common. One is about displaying something; the other is about disregarding something. Mixing them up — especially writing “flaunt the law” instead of “flout the law” — is one of the most frequent vocabulary slips in written English, even among native speakers.

At a Glance: Flaunt vs Flout

WordMeaningPronunciationTypical Object
flaunt to display or show off ostentatiously; to parade proudly /flɔːnt/ (rhymes with haunt) wealth, beauty, success, possessions
flout to openly disregard or defy a rule, law, or convention /flaʊt/ (rhymes with shout) rules, laws, regulations, authority

Using “Flaunt”

Flaunt is a verb meaning to display something so proudly or boldly that you draw attention to it. It usually carries a hint of showing off — the flaunting is deliberate and often a little vain. You flaunt things you are proud of and want others to notice.

Definition

To display or show off something ostentatiously, parading it proudly to attract attention or admiration. The object is typically something you possess or embody: money, status, talent, beauty, or achievements.

When to use it

  • When someone shows off possessions or wealth: flaunt your money
  • When someone displays beauty, a body, or fashion deliberately
  • When someone parades success, talent, or status to impress others
  • In the famous phrase “If you’ve got it, flaunt it”
  • Whenever the idea is conspicuous display, not rule-breaking

She loves to flaunt her designer handbags on social media.

He flaunted his new sports car in front of the neighbours.

The winners flaunted their trophies for the cameras.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. (common idiom)

She wasn’t afraid to flaunt her wealth at the party.

The peacock flaunts its colourful tail to attract a mate.

Key Pattern

flaunt + something you possess: flaunt your wealth, flaunt her beauty, flaunt his success
The object is almost always a thing you have or are — never a rule or law.

Using “Flout”

Flout is a verb meaning to openly and deliberately disregard a rule, law, or accepted standard — often with a sense of contempt or defiance. You don’t just break the rule by accident; you ignore it openly, almost daring anyone to object.

Definition

To openly disregard, defy, or break a rule, law, convention, or authority, usually with deliberate contempt. The object is typically something you are supposed to obey or respect: rules, laws, regulations, conventions, or warnings.

When to use it

  • When someone deliberately ignores a rule or regulation: flout the rules
  • When someone openly breaks the law without concern: flout the law
  • When someone defies social conventions or norms: flout convention
  • When someone shows contempt for authority or warnings
  • Whenever the idea is open defiance, not showing off

Drivers who flout the speed limit face heavy fines.

The company flouted safety regulations to cut costs.

He openly flouted the dress code by wearing trainers.

They flouted convention by marrying in secret.

Protesters flouted the ban and gathered anyway.

You can’t simply flout the law and expect no consequences.

Key Pattern

flout + a rule or standard: flout the rules, flout the law, flout convention, flout regulations
The object is almost always something you are meant to obey — never a possession.

The Key Difference: Show Off vs Defy

The single most important thing to remember is that flaunt and flout have completely separate meanings. Flaunt is about displaying something proudly; flout is about disregarding something defiantly. They are not interchangeable in any context.

A quick test: ask yourself what is being acted on. If it is a possession or quality (wealth, beauty, talent), the verb is flaunt. If it is a rule or law (regulations, the speed limit, convention), the verb is flout. The pronunciations differ too: flaunt has the “aw” sound of haunt (/ɔː/), while flout has the “ow” sound of shout (/aʊ/).

Flaunt — showing off:

She flaunted her engagement ring to everyone at work.

Flout — defying:

She flouted the office rules by ignoring the deadline.

Common Mistakes

Drivers who flaunt the speed limit should be fined.

Drivers who flout the speed limit should be fined. (you defy a limit, not show it off)

The company flaunted health and safety regulations.

The company flouted health and safety regulations. (rules are flouted, not flaunted)

He likes to flout his expensive watch.

He likes to flaunt his expensive watch. (a watch is shown off, not defied)

They flouted their new car in front of everyone.

They flaunted their new car in front of everyone. (a possession is flaunted)

Special Expressions and Phrases

Each verb appears in some fixed and frequent collocations. With flaunt, the object is something you possess or embody:

  • flaunt your wealth — show off how rich you are
  • flaunt it — as in “If you’ve got it, flaunt it”
  • flaunt her body / figure — display physical appearance boldly
  • flaunt his success — parade achievements proudly

With flout, the object is always a rule, standard, or authority:

  • flout the rules — openly ignore the rules
  • flout the law — deliberately break the law
  • flout convention — defy social norms or tradition
  • flout regulations / a ban — disregard official restrictions
Memory Tip

Link floUT with being thrown OUT: if you flout the rules, you break them and risk being thrown out. It also rhymes with shout — think of shouting in defiance. For flaUnt, think of vaUnt (to boast) or haUnt — flaunt is the boastful one, showing off what you have. So: flout = defy rules (and get thrown OUT); flaunt = show off proudly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between flaunt and flout?
Flaunt means to show off or display something proudly to attract attention, such as wealth, beauty, or success: she flaunted her new ring. Flout means to openly disregard or defy a rule, law, or convention, often with contempt: drivers who flout the speed limit. The two verbs sound similar but have completely different meanings. Flaunt is about displaying a possession or quality; flout is about disregarding a rule or standard. They are never interchangeable.
Is it "flaunt the rules" or "flout the rules"?
It is flout the rules. You flout (openly defy or ignore) rules, laws, and regulations. Writing "flaunt the rules" is one of the most common errors in English, because the two words sound similar. Remember: you flaunt a possession or quality you want to show off, but you flout a rule you want to ignore. If the object is something you are supposed to obey, the correct verb is always flout.
What does flaunt mean?
Flaunt is a verb meaning to display or show off something ostentatiously, parading it proudly to attract attention or admiration. You flaunt things you are proud of and want others to notice: flaunt your wealth, flaunt her beauty, flaunt his success. It often carries a hint of vanity or showing off. The well-known idiom "If you've got it, flaunt it" captures the idea: if you have something impressive, display it boldly.
What does flout mean?
Flout is a verb meaning to openly disregard, defy, or break a rule, law, convention, or authority, usually with deliberate contempt. You don't break the rule by accident — you ignore it openly, almost daring anyone to object. Typical objects are rules, laws, regulations, conventions, and bans: flout the rules, flout the law, flout convention. The tone is one of defiance and disrespect toward something you are meant to obey.
How do you pronounce flaunt and flout?
Flaunt is pronounced /flɔːnt/ — it rhymes with "haunt" and "taunt," using the "aw" vowel sound. Flout is pronounced /flaʊt/ — it rhymes with "shout," "out," and "about," using the "ow" vowel sound. The different vowel sounds are a reliable way to tell them apart in speech: flaunt has the long "aw" of haunt, while flout has the diphthong "ow" of shout. Mixing up the pronunciation is another common error.
Why do people confuse flaunt and flout?
People confuse flaunt and flout because they look and sound very similar — both are short verbs starting with "fl" and both can carry a negative or boastful tone. The mix-up is so widespread that "flaunt the rules" appears frequently even in published writing. The key is to focus on the object: a possession or quality (wealth, beauty) goes with flaunt, while a rule or standard (laws, regulations) goes with flout. Keeping the objects separate prevents almost every error.
Can you give an easy way to remember which is which?
Yes. For flout, remember that it ends in -OUT: if you flout the rules, you break them and risk being thrown OUT. It also rhymes with "shout," suggesting loud defiance. For flaunt, link it with "vaunt" (to boast) or "haunt" — flaunt is the boastful one, showing off what you have. So flout means defy the rules (and get thrown OUT), while flaunt means show off proudly. Matching each word to its object also helps: rules are flouted, possessions are flaunted.
What is the phrase "If you've got it, flaunt it"?
"If you've got it, flaunt it" is a common English idiom meaning that if you have an attractive quality, talent, or asset, you should display it boldly rather than hide it. The "it" usually refers to beauty, wealth, style, or talent — something worth showing off. The phrase always uses flaunt, never flout, because it is about proud display, not rule-breaking. It is often used playfully to encourage someone to be confident about their best features.
What kinds of words follow flaunt and flout?
Flaunt is followed by something you possess or embody: flaunt your wealth, flaunt her figure, flaunt his success, flaunt their privilege. The object is a thing you have or a quality you display. Flout is followed by something you are supposed to obey or respect: flout the rules, flout the law, flout convention, flout regulations, flout a ban. If the object is a rule or standard, use flout; if it is a possession or attribute, use flaunt. This object test resolves nearly every case.
Are flaunt and flout always negative?
Not exactly. Flout is almost always negative or critical, because it describes deliberately defying rules or authority, which is usually disapproved of. Flaunt can be negative when it implies vanity or showing off in an annoying way, but it is not always so — the idiom "If you've got it, flaunt it" uses it positively or playfully to mean display your assets with confidence. So flout typically signals disapproval, while flaunt ranges from playful to mildly critical depending on context.

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