exhibitionist
gb/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst/ us/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
role
1
person who exposes genitals in public
A person who shows their private parts in public.
Usage pattern:
an exhibitionist; [someone] is an exhibitionist; an exhibitionist in/on/at [place]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with exhibitor (a person/company that shows products at an exhibition).
Synonyms
flasher (More informal and common in everyday speech.)
|
indecent exposer (More formal and often used in legal contexts.)
Antonyms
modest person (Someone who avoids exposing their body or attracting sexual attention.)
Collocations
a sexual exhibitionist
|a public exhibitionist
|a convicted exhibitionist
|an alleged exhibitionist
|a known exhibitionist
|a repeat exhibitionist
|a serial exhibitionist
|police arrested an exhibitionist
|reports of an exhibitionist
|complaints about an exhibitionist
Themes
crime
|law
|sex
|psychology
Examples
- Police arrested an exhibitionist after several people reported indecent exposure near the station.
- The council increased lighting in the park after complaints about an exhibitionist.
- He was described in court as a repeat exhibitionist.
Learner examples
- The exhibitionist showed himself in public.
- The police caught an exhibitionist in the park.
Noun
C1
role
2
person who loves showing off
A person who likes attention and shows off.
Usage pattern:
an exhibitionist; an exhibitionist about [something]; an exhibitionist on [platform]
Common mistake:
In this sense it means ‘show-off’; it does not necessarily mean indecent exposure.
Synonyms
show-off (More informal; focuses on boasting or trying to impress.)
|
attention-seeker (Emphasizes wanting attention rather than performance.)
|
grandstander (Often suggests performing for public approval, especially in politics or sports.)
Antonyms
private person (Someone who avoids publicity and keeps their life to themselves.)
|
wallflower (Someone who stays in the background in social situations.)
Collocations
a shameless exhibitionist
|a natural exhibitionist
|an attention-seeking exhibitionist
|a social-media exhibitionist
|a political exhibitionist
|a self-promoting exhibitionist
|an exhibitionist performer
|an exhibitionist personality
|an exhibitionist by nature
|an exhibitionist at heart
Themes
personality
|social_media
|behavior
Examples
- He’s a bit of an exhibitionist on social media, posting daily videos of his workouts.
- The columnist dismissed the speech as the work of a political exhibitionist.
- She isn’t an exhibitionist, so she hates being photographed at parties.
Learner examples
- He is an exhibitionist and loves attention.
- She is not an exhibitionist, so she stays quiet.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exhibitionist
IPA
GB/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst/
US/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst/
Syllables & stress
ex - hib - i - tion - ist (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (i)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: exhibitionist
- Plural: exhibitionists
Word family
Forms
exhibitionists
noun
Core family
exhibit
verb B1
exhibition
noun B1
Related words
exhibitor
noun
Advanced or less common
exhibitionism
noun
exhibitionistic
adjective
Expressions
a bit of an exhibitionist
1/ə bˈɪt əv ən ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst/
fixed phrase
somewhat attention-seeking
Someone who likes to show off a little.
Examples
- I’m a bit of an exhibitionist, so I don’t mind speaking in front of a crowd.
- He’s a bit of an exhibitionist with his new car.
- She can be a bit of an exhibitionist online.
an exhibitionist streak
1/ən ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
strong tendency to show off
A part of someone that likes attention.
Examples
- He has an exhibitionist streak and loves performing for strangers.
- Her exhibitionist streak comes out after a couple of drinks.
- The director’s exhibitionist streak is obvious in his interviews.
exhibitionist behavior
1/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst bɪhˈeɪvjɚ/
fixed phrase
attention-seeking or indecent conduct
Behavior where someone tries to be noticed by showing themselves.
Examples
- The judge ordered counseling after repeated exhibitionist behavior.
- The documentary explores exhibitionist behavior in the age of social media.
- Teachers complained about exhibitionist behavior during the school event.
exhibitionist tendencies
1/ˌɛksɪbˈɪʃənɪst tˈɛndənsiz/
fixed phrase
inclination to show oneself off
A habit of trying to be noticed by others.
Examples
- His exhibitionist tendencies made him perfect for reality TV.
- The therapist asked whether she had any exhibitionist tendencies.
- The article links the trend to exhibitionist tendencies on social media.