flout
UK /flaʊt/ US /flaʊt/ Syllables: flout
Quick answer
To openly disregard a rule, law, or convention.
To flout a rule is to break it openly and show that you do not respect it. People flout laws, rules, customs and advice, often on purpose and without hiding it. Close words are defy, disregard, ignore, violate and scorn. The opposite is to obey, follow or comply with. The word is often confused with flaunt, which means to show off. You flout a rule, but you flaunt your wealth. Flout is rarely a noun. You will most often see the verb with objects such as the law, convention, the rules and the ban.
"The factory was fined for flouting safety regulations."Meanings
- To openly disregard a rule, law or custom, showing contempt for it.
- To mock or scorn (archaic).
Example sentences
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"Drivers who flout the speed limit risk a large fine."
Level C1, Meaning 1
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"The company flouted the safety rules for years."
Level C1, Meaning 1
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"She flouted convention by wearing red to the funeral."
Level C1, Meaning 1
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"Flouting the ban could cost the club its place in the league."
Level C1, Meaning 1
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- flaunt : Flaunt means to show off. Flout means to ignore a rule. The two are often mixed up.
- defy : Defy means to refuse to obey a person or power. Flout stresses open contempt for a rule.
- violate : Violate is a neutral, formal word for breaking a rule. Flout adds open disrespect.
Word family and forms
Forms: flouts, flouted, flouting
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "flout".
- flout the law
- flout the rules
- flout convention
- flout a ban
- flout authority
- openly flout
- flout tradition
Origin
Flout is recorded in English from the late 1300s with the meaning to play the flute, from Middle English flouten, and it may be related to Dutch fluiten, which means to play the flute and also to jeer. The sense of treating something with scorn is the one that survived in modern English.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
Usage notes
Don't confuse with "flaunt", which means to show off.
How to remember it
Flout has the word out in it: you break the rule right out in the open. Flaunt is the word for showing off.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "Drivers who _____ the speed limit risk a large fine."
Answer: flout
In your own words, what does "flout" mean?
To openly disregard a rule, law, or convention.
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Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin, meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin, meanings, word family · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Cambridge Dictionary · used for the meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Report a mistake on this page