Conspicuous
/kənˈspɪk.ju.əs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Conspicuous describes something or someone that is very clear and easy to see or notice. It often means that the thing is different from everything else around it, so it attracts attention quickly. People or objects that are conspicuous do not blend in or hide.
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⚡ See It in Action
Easily seen or noticed because it is different or stands out
- •The bright neon sign was conspicuous in the dark street.
- •Her red hat made her conspicuous at the party.
- •The mistake in the report was conspicuous and easy to find.
Attracting attention by being unusual or eye-catching
- •He made a conspicuous effort to dress well for the interview.
- •The bird’s conspicuous colors help it attract a mate.
- •The large logo on the shirt was conspicuous from a distance.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conspicuous" like "visible" (A1 word), but much stronger—something that is not just seen but grabs your attention immediately.
- ✓Picture a bright red apple in a basket full of green apples—it stands out and is easy to spot.
- ✓It's the feeling when you wear a bright color in a crowd of people wearing dark clothes—you know everyone can see you.
- ✓Sounds like "con-SPICK-you-us" → imagine someone picking you out quickly from a group because you are very easy to see.
- ✓Remember a bright yellow school bus on the street; it is designed to be conspicuous so drivers notice it fast.
- ✓NOT like "hidden" (something you cannot see), conspicuous means the opposite—very clear and noticeable.
- ✓NOT like "ordinary" (common, blending in), conspicuous things are unusual or different, so they stand out.
- ✓NOT like "invisible" (cannot be seen), conspicuous means very visible and obvious.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Obvious: easy to see or understand (Use when you want to say something is clear in meaning or appearance)
- •Visible: able to be seen (Use when focusing on the ability to see something, not necessarily standing out)
- •Striking: very noticeable because of being unusual or attractive (Use when something draws attention because it is beautiful or unusual)
- •Prominent: important or easy to see (Use when something stands out because of importance or position)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "con-" (together, with)
- •Root: "spic" from Latin "specere" meaning "to look" or "to see"
- •Suffix: "-uous," an adjective ending meaning "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "conspicuus," meaning "visible, obvious"
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 1600s to describe things that are easy to see or attract attention
- •Modern usage: Used to describe anything that is very easy to notice or stands out because it is different
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can something be conspicuous in a good way and a bad way? How do you decide?
•How does being conspicuous affect how people behave in social situations or public places?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The bright yellow jacket was conspicuous ___ the dark colors all around it.
2.She made a conspicuous effort to ___ her new skills during the presentation.
3.Unlike quiet colors, red is conspicuous because it ___ attention quickly.
4.The error in the report was conspicuous and could not be ___ by the editor.
5.They placed the sign in a conspicuous spot so everyone would ___ it easily.
6.His loud laugh was conspicuous at the meeting and made others ___ him.
7.When someone is conspicuous, they often ___ more attention than they want.