blatant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very obvious and done without trying to hide it, especially when it is something bad.
conspicuously obvious and unashamed; used to describe negative actions performed without any attempt at concealment.
Simple“The player was sent off the field for a blatant lie to the referee.”
In context“The company showed a blatant disregard for safety regulations, leading to a series of avoidable accidents in the factory.”
UsageUsually precedes the noun it modifies and carries a strong negative tone.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'obvious'. While 'obvious' is neutral, 'blatant' almost always implies that the action is wrong or rude.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
making a very loud, unpleasant, and rough noise.
bellowing or disagreeably clamorous; producing a loud and harsh sound.
Simple“The blatant noise of the brass horns filled the old hall.”
In context“The poet described the blatant bellows of the mythical beast as it emerged from the dark cave.”
Teacher's tipThis is the original meaning of the word but is rarely used today. Modern speakers only use 'blatant' to mean 'obvious'.
Coined by Edmund Spenser in 1596 in "blatant beast". Probably a variation of *blatand (Scots blaitand (“bleating”)), present participle of blate, a variation of bleat, equivalent to blate + -ant. See bleat. In addition, it is suggested by Latin blatiō (“speak like a fool, prate”), which is rare, and so the similitude may be just coincidental. Compare typologically Bulgarian вопиющ (vopijušt), Russian вопию́щий (vopijúščij) (akin to вопи́ть (vopítʹ)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.