conspicuous

[kuhn-spik-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable.

   a conspicuous error.

   Synonyms: salient, marked, clear, noticeable, manifest

2. attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities.

   He was conspicuous by his booming laughter.

   Synonyms: noteworthy, striking, prominent

conspicuous

/ kənˈspɪkjʊəs /

adjective

1. clearly visible; obvious or showy

2. attracting attention because of a striking quality or feature

   conspicuous stupidity

Other Word Forms

• conspicuously adverb
• conspicuousness noun
• conspicuity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspicuous¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin conspicuus “clearly seen, visible,” equivalent to conspic(ere) “to see, catch sight of” + -uus adjective suffix; conspectus; contiguous, continuous, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspicuous¹

C16: from Latin conspicuus, from conspicere to perceive; see _conspectus

Example Sentences

As the youngster curiously mulled about, moving sticks around, some conspicuous features became clear.

From Los Angeles Times

Isak was conspicuous by his absence once again, as the wantaway Swede continues to train away from the rest of his Newcastle team-mates, and this saga added a new dimension to the game.

From BBC

On the island it was too conspicuous, on the prep table it threatened my workspace — the same one where, some mornings, I write this newsletter.

From Salon

Gray calls this attitude part of “conspicuous resilience,” conflating being temporarily displaced and inconvenienced with being oppressed and vulnerable, leading to the celebration and glorification of a recovery that mostly benefits the few.

From Los Angeles Times

But it remains unclear how someone was able to get such a heavy, conspicuous artefact out of the country without the authorities apparently noticing.

From BBC

Related Words

• blatant 
• flagrant 
• glaring 
• influential 
• notable 
• remarkable 
• salient 
• striking