flout

IPA/flaʊt/
KK[flˈaʊt]IPA/flaʊt/

flout — verb

  • floutpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • floutshe / she / it
  • floutedpast simple
  • flouting-ing form

1. to deliberately disobey a law, custom, or regulation, showing no respect for the

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to deliberately disobey a law, custom, or regulation, showing no respect for the authority it represents

Example

Wei flouted the school's dress code by wearing bright orange trainers every day.

flout + dress code / rule

The construction company openly flouted safety regulations for years before the accident.

flout + safety regulations (formal context)

Common collocations
  • flout the law
  • flout the rules
  • flout regulations
  • blatantly flout
  • openly flout
  • repeatedly flout
Synonyms
  • defy

    stronger and more confrontational; can be directed at a person or authority, not just a rule

  • violate

    more neutral and formal; used in legal contexts without necessarily implying contempt

  • disregard

    to consciously dismiss or pay no attention to something

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

flout + noun (rule, law, regulation, convention)

Usage Note

Object is typically a law, rule, regulation, or social convention. The subject is usually a person or institution deliberately choosing not to comply.

Common Mistakes

She flaunted the school rules by wearing makeup.
She flouted the school rules by wearing makeup.
'flaunt' means to show off proudly; 'flout' means to openly disobey.

2. to behave in a way that openly mocks or scorns someone or something, treating th

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to behave in a way that openly mocks or scorns someone or something, treating them as unworthy of respect

Example

Otis flouted the guest speaker, yawning loudly and checking his phone throughout the talk.

flout + person (show scorn through dismissive body language)

Eshe flouted the interviewer's questions, giving every answer with a mocking, dismissive smirk.

Common collocations
  • flout authority
  • flout convention
  • flout someone's advice
Synonyms
  • mock

    more common and less formal; can be done through words or actions

  • scorn

    stronger in tone; suggests deep contempt, often with a moral judgement

  • deride

    formal; emphasises verbal ridicule rather than behavioural disrespect

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

flout + noun (person, idea, opinion, suggestion)

Usage Note

Object is typically a person, their opinion, or their advice. The focus is on expressing contempt through visible behaviour rather than through words alone.

flout — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Flout is the most specific of these words — it always involves openly disobeying a rule, law, or convention while making your lack of respect visible. Defy is stronger and more confrontational; you can defy a person or an authority directly, not just a rule. Violate is more neutral and formal, used especially in legal contexts (violate a treaty, violate human rights) without necessarily implying an attitude of contempt. Disregard and ignore both mean paying no attention, but disregard suggests a conscious choice to dismiss something, while ignore can be passive or unintentional. Flout combines disregard with an element of public disrespect: when a company flouts safety regulations, it is not just ignoring them but doing so in a way that shows contempt for the rules themselves.

defy ↗violate ↗disregard ↗ignore ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • flout the law
  • flout authority

Adverbs

  • openly flout
  • blatantly flout
  • repeatedly flout

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

Flout comes from Middle English flouten, meaning 'to play the flute.' The word took on its modern sense through the idea of whistling or piping at someone in mockery — making flute-like sounds to show contempt. By the 16th century, it had broadened from literal whistling to any scornful or disrespectful behaviour. It is related to Dutch fluiten (to whistle).

First known use

1551

1551, in the meaning defined at transitive sense Noun