conspicuous

/kənˈspɪkjuəs/

Say it: kun-SPIK-yoo-us

1. adjective Easy to see or notice; standing out so as to be clearly visible.
He was a tall man with a conspicuous scar on his left cheek.
2. adjective Attracting special attention because of being unusual, excellent, or eccentric.
The orchestra's performance was a conspicuous success.

📖 Seen in the wild

The new building was designed to be conspicuous, a landmark visible from miles away.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ conspicuous in a sentence

She felt very conspicuous in her bright red coat.
There was a conspicuous lack of enthusiasm for the new company policy.
The warning sign was placed in the most conspicuous location at the trail's entrance.
His absence from the team meeting was conspicuous and led to speculation.
The bird has a conspicuous crest of feathers that it raises when alarmed.
Conspicuous consumption of luxury goods was a hallmark of the era.
The error in the report was so conspicuous that the intern spotted it immediately.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

noticeable prominent obvious striking salient visible apparent blatant

noticeable · suggests something is apparent enough to be seen, but may not be as attention-grabbing as conspicuous.

prominent · often implies something stands out physically from its surroundings or is important.

obvious · relates more to being easily understood or perceived by the mind, not just the eyes.

striking · implies a stronger, more dramatic visual impact that immediately captures attention.

Opposites: inconspicuous, unobtrusive, subtle, hidden, concealed

🌱 Where it comes from

Conspicuous walked into English from the Latin word 'conspicuus', meaning visible or distinguished. This itself comes from 'conspicere', which breaks down into 'con-' (an intensifier) and 'specere' (to look at). So, at its root, something conspicuous is an object that you can't help but look at.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

conspicuous consumptionconspicuous by its absencemake oneself conspicuousa conspicuous lack ofa conspicuous successa conspicuous failure

Conspicuous is a strong word for something that stands out. While neutral, it can carry a slightly negative connotation, suggesting something is undesirably or uncomfortably noticeable. For example, 'making oneself conspicuous' often implies drawing unwanted attention. The common phrase 'conspicuous by its absence' is a fixed idiom used to point out that the non-presence of something is significant.

Word family: conspicuously, conspicuousness

💬 Quick answers

What does conspicuous mean?

It means something is very easy to see or notice. It can also mean something attracts attention because it's unusual or remarkable.

What's the difference between conspicuous and obvious?

Conspicuous relates to being easily seen, while obvious relates to being easily understood. A person in a neon suit is conspicuous; the fact that they want attention is obvious.

What does 'conspicuous by its absence' mean?

This phrase means that the fact that something or someone is missing is itself very noticeable and significant.

Is conspicuous a positive or negative word?

It can be neutral, positive, or negative depending on context. It is neutral when simply meaning 'visible,' positive for a 'conspicuous success,' and often negative in 'conspicuous consumption,' which implies showing off.

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