conspicuous
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very easy to notice or see.
obvious to the eye or mind; attracting attention by being striking or unusual.
Simple“The red bird was very conspicuous against the white snow.”
In context“The new skyscraper was conspicuous on the city skyline, towering over the historic brick buildings that surrounded it.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'among' or 'against' to show contrast.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
noticing something because it stands out in a way that might be embarrassing or strange.
attracting attention in a manner that is often perceived as ostentatious, inappropriate, or unattractive.
Simple“He felt very conspicuous standing there in his bright suit while everyone else wore black.”
In context“The celebrity tried to stay quiet, but her large security detail made her presence in the small café quite conspicuous.”
Teacher's tipThis sense often carries a slightly negative or uncomfortable tone, suggesting the person or thing stands out more than they should.
“In France there has been a ban on wearing any conspicuous religious symbols, including headscarves, turbans and kippas, in schools for more than 20 years.”
“Fauxmance?) with Andrew Garfield, with whom she had shared some conspicuous chemistry on various red carpets.”
From Latin conspicuus (“visible, striking”), from cōnspicere (“to notice”), from con- (“with, together”) + specere (“to look at”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.