What does "exotic" mean?

1. (foreign and exciting) unusual and exciting because it comes from a distant country. 2. (unusual pets) describing animals that are not common pets like cats or dogs. 3. (complex finance) describing financial products that are more complicated than usual ones. 4. (introduced species) a plant or animal that has been brought into a place where it does not naturally belong. 5. (a dancer) a person who performs a type of dance that involves taking off their clothes.

exotic

adj. · n.

US //ɪɡˈzɑtɪk// UK //ɛɡzˈɒtɪk// ex·ot·ic

1 foreign and exciting (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

unusual and exciting because it comes from a distant country.

originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country, often implying a sense of striking difference or allure.

Example

The market was full of exotic fruits that I had never seen before.

Example

The travel agency specializes in exotic destinations that remain largely untouched by mainstream commercial tourism.
2 unusual pets (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

describing animals that are not common pets like cats or dogs.

denoting or relating to any animal that is not a common domestic species, often requiring specialized veterinary care.

Example

The vet specializes in exotic animals like snakes and lizards.

Example

Owning exotic pets requires a significant commitment to maintaining specific environmental conditions and specialized dietary needs.
- non domesticated
- domestic

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3 complex finance (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Law

describing financial products that are more complicated than usual ones.

relating to financial derivatives or options with complex features that distinguish them from standard or 'plain vanilla' instruments.

Example

The bank lost money after investing in exotic financial products.

Example

The regulator expressed concern regarding the lack of transparency in the trading of exotic derivatives during the market downturn.
- complex
- non standard
- standard
- vanilla
4 introduced species (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Science

a plant or animal that has been brought into a place where it does not naturally belong.

an organism that is not native to a particular ecosystem; an introduced or invasive species.

Example

The local forest is being taken over by an exotic vine from another continent.

Example

The introduction of an exotic into the island's fragile ecosystem led to the rapid decline of several endemic bird species.
- invasive
- non native
- native
- indigenous
5 a dancer (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

a person who performs a type of dance that involves taking off their clothes.

a euphemism for a stripteaser or a performer of suggestive dances.

Example

He worked as an exotic dancer while he was trying to finish college.

Example

The club featured several exotic dancers who performed elaborate routines involving fire and acrobatics.
- stripper
- performer

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French exotique, from Latin exōticus, from Ancient Greek ἐξωτικός (exōtikós, “foreign”, literally “from the outside”), from ἐξω- (exō-, “outside”), from ἐξ (ex, “out of”).