Flaunt vs Flout: What's the Difference?
To flaunt is to show off proudly; to flout is to openly break or scorn a rule.
Word Origins & Etymology
Flaunt (origin uncertain, 1500s) has always meant to display showily — to parade something so others notice.
Flout comes from a Middle English word meaning "to mock," related to "flute" (to play or whistle scornfully). It means to treat with open contempt, especially rules.
You flout the rules (both have a U sound of defiance), and you flaunt to vaunt — to boast. Show off → flaunt; defy → flout.
⚡ Quick Answer
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
Showing something off → flaunt. Openly breaking or scorning a rule → flout. The classic error is "flaunt the rules" when you mean "flout."
| 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. |
When to Use "Flaunt"
Flaunt means to display something showily so people notice — wealth, beauty, talent, or success.
- He likes to flaunt his designer watches.
- She wasn’t afraid to flaunt her success.
- "If you’ve got it, flaunt it."
When to Use "Flout"
Flout means to openly disregard or show contempt for a rule, law, or convention.
- Drivers who flout speed limits risk fines.
- The company flouted safety regulations.
- They flouted convention and eloped.
The fix: you flaunt what you want admired and flout what you refuse to obey. "Flaunting the rules" is the most common mix-up — if rules or laws follow, the word is flout. For another defy/show-off nuance, see imply vs infer.
Pick the Right Synonym
A fast self-test is to swap in a synonym. For flaunt, try show off, parade, or display: "parade her wealth" works, so flaunt is right. For flout, try defy, disregard, or scorn: "defy the rules" works, so flout is right. The error nearly always runs one direction — "flaunt the law" for "flout the law" — so whenever rules, laws, or conventions are the target, pause and reach for flout.
Origins and Set Phrases
A little history makes the pair stick. Flout, "to treat with contempt," has been in English since the 1500s and likely traces to a Middle English word for mocking; it has always pointed at rules, authority, and convention. Flaunt, "to show off," surfaced later with an uncertain origin and has always pointed at wealth, beauty, or talent — things people display on purpose. Two set phrases lock them in. The idiom is "if you've got it, flaunt it" (show it off), never "flout it." And one almost always flouts the rules, the law, or the dress code, openly defying them. The mistake runs one way far more often than the other: people write "flaunt the rules" when they mean flout. So whenever the object is a rule, a law, a ban, or a norm, the verb you want is flout; when the object is something enviable being paraded, it is flaunt.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: "flaunt the rules"
✗ Wrong: They flaunt the rules whenever it suits them.
✓ Right: They flout the rules whenever it suits them.
Reason: Openly disregarding rules is flout.
Mistake #2: "flout her jewelry"
✗ Wrong: She loves to flout her jewelry.
✓ Right: She loves to flaunt her jewelry.
Reason: Showing off possessions is flaunt.
Mistake #3: "flaunting the law"
✗ Wrong: The firm was fined for flaunting the law.
✓ Right: The firm was fined for flouting the law.
Reason: Defying the law is flouting it.
Mistake #4: "flout your success"
✗ Wrong: Don’t flout your success in front of them.
✓ Right: Don’t flaunt your success in front of them.
Reason: Parading success is flaunting it.
🎯 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.
See It Live: Our Engine Flags a Real Mistake
Below runs Grammarlyzer’s live engine, not an image. The starter sentence uses flaunt for flout; correct it or test a sentence of your own.
Expected correction: Several drivers openly flout the speed limit on this road.
Honest limits: the engine catches spelling and agreement, but flaunt vs flout turns on meaning — showing off or defying. Decide which you mean, then run the check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it "flaunt the rules" or "flout the rules"?
How do I remember the difference?
What does "flout" usually go with?
What does "flaunt" usually go with?
Is "flaunt" ever acceptable for "flout"?
Real-World Examples
Drivers who flout the speed limit get ticketed.
She loves to flaunt her new ring.
The company flouted labor laws.
The startup flaunted its rapid growth.
Protesters flouted the curfew.
He likes to flaunt his tan after vacation.
They flaunt every safety rule on site.
She flouted her designer bag.
Why Do People Confuse Them?
Flaunt and flout sound similar and both describe brazen behavior, so the meanings blur — and the mix-up runs mostly one way, with "flaunt the rules" standing in for "flout." The reliable cue is the object: you flaunt things you want admired (wealth, talent) and flout things you refuse to obey (rules, laws). Match the verb to what follows it.
Flaunt vs flout is a meaning-based pair, like imply vs infer. For more sound-alikes, browse similar-sounding words.
Related Articles
- Imply vs Infer — Another pair confused by meaning, not spelling
- Faze vs Phase — A look-alike pair with a one-directional error
- Affect vs Effect — The classic meaning-based confusable
- Similar-Sounding Words — Continue through more near-twins
- ← View All Grammar Guides
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