Flaunt vs Flout: What's the Difference?

Reviewed by the Grammarlyzer Editorial Team · Our Review Standards · Published June 14, 2026 · Updated July 16, 2026

To flaunt is to show off proudly; to flout is to openly break or scorn a rule.

⚡ Quick Answer

Flaunt = to show off or display proudly (verb). "She flaunts her wealth."

Flout = to openly disregard or defy a rule or convention (verb). "He flouts the law."

Memory Trick: You flout the rules (both about defiance). You flaunt to vaunt — to boast and show off. Defy → flout; boast → flaunt.

🔑 Key Takeaway

For the clearest distinction in edited prose, use flaunt for showing something off and flout for openly scorning a rule. Dictionaries also record a disputed flaunt-for-flout sense, explained below.

Word Meaning Object Example
Flaunt Show off / display wealth, talent, success "flaunt a new car"
Flout Openly defy / scorn rules, laws, conventions "flout the dress code"

Quick Comparison

Form Use It For Quick Check
Flaunt Showing off something you have Could you replace it with show off? Use flaunt.
Flout Openly breaking a rule or norm Could you replace it with defy or disregard? Use flout.
Object test What follows the verb wealth/talent → flaunt; rules/laws → flout.

Common Mistakes

Reaching for "flaunt" when a rule is the target

⚠️ Prefer in edited prose:

"Several contractors flaunted the building code to finish ahead of schedule."

✓ Correct:

"Several contractors flouted the building code to finish ahead of schedule."

When the object is a code, law, ban, or convention and the meaning is "openly disregard," flout preserves the traditional distinction. Some dictionaries record the competing flaunt use, but many readers still treat it as a mistake.

Using "flout" for something being shown off

❌ Incorrect:

"She wasn't shy about flouting the bonus she earned that quarter."

✓ Correct:

"She wasn't shy about flaunting the bonus she earned that quarter."

If the thing after the verb is something enviable being paraded, swap in "show off" as a test — "show off the bonus" fits, so the word is flaunt.

Source and Usage Boundary

Direct usage source

Merriam-Webster's guide to flaunt and flout gives the established distinction: flaunt is showy display, while flout is treating a rule or convention with contempt.

Recorded but disputed overlap

The same guide explains that dictionaries record flaunt in the contemptuous-disregard sense because the usage is established. Many readers still see it as an error, so flout the rules is the clearer edited choice.

🔗 The Spelling Tell

You flout the rules (both have a U sound of defiance), and you flaunt to vaunt — to boast. Show off → flaunt; defy → flout.

🎯 Test Your Knowledge

1. Motorists who ____ the law face heavy fines.

2. He likes to ____ his expensive gadgets.

3. The club members openly ____ the dress code.

4. She didn’t want to ____ her wealth.

5. The factory ____ environmental regulations for years.

Test It: Flaunt or Flout?

The demo uses flaunt where careful edited prose prefers flout. In the July 16, 2026 browser test, the checker returned no issue for either the seed or the revision.

Manual revision: Several drivers openly flout the speed limit on this road. This spelling makes the intended defiance unambiguous.

This exact result demonstrates a false negative, not general checker behavior. Apply the meaning and audience test even when the result box is clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is preferred: flaunt the rules or flout the rules?

In careful edited prose, use flout the rules for open defiance. This preserves the established distinction between flout for contemptuous disregard and flaunt for showy display.

How do I remember the difference?

Test show off for flaunt and defy for flout. The object also helps: people commonly flaunt wealth or talent and flout laws or conventions.

What does flout usually go with?

Flout commonly takes rules, laws, conventions, norms, or authority as its object: flout the law, flout the dress code, or flout convention.

What does flaunt usually go with?

In its showy-display sense, flaunt takes something a person wants noticed, such as wealth, success, talent, beauty, or possessions.

Do dictionaries accept flaunt to mean flout?

Merriam-Webster records a flaunt sense meaning to treat contemptuously because that use is established, while noting that many readers consider it a mistake. In edited prose, flout is the clearer choice for defiance.

Real-World Examples

🚗 Daily:

Drivers who flout the speed limit get ticketed.

Flout = defy a rule.
💎 Daily:

She loves to flaunt her new ring.

Flaunt = show off.
⚖️ Legal:

The company flouted labor laws.

Flouted = defied.
💼 Business:

The startup flaunted its rapid growth.

Flaunted = displayed proudly.
🏛️ Civic:

Protesters flouted the curfew.

Flouted = openly disregarded.
🏖️ Daily:

He likes to flaunt his tan after vacation.

Flaunt = show off.
⚠️ Prefer for clarity:

They flaunt every safety rule on site.

Prefer "flout" for defiance in edited prose; it avoids the disputed overlap.
❌ Common Mistake:

She flouted her designer bag.

Wrong: should be "flaunted" (showed off).

An Object-and-Audience Editing Pass

First test the object: wealth, talent, or a possession points to showy display and flaunt; a rule, law, or convention points to defiance and flout. Then consider the audience. Although dictionaries record the overlapping flaunt sense, flout avoids distracting readers who reject it.

Flaunt vs flout is a meaning-based pair, like imply vs infer. For more sound-alikes, browse similar-sounding words.

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Use the checker as one pass, then verify this pair manually. Our exact flaunt the speed limit seed and its flout revision both returned no issues.

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