exhibitionist

Other forms: exhibitionists

An exhibitionist is a person who thrives on getting a lot of attention. If your best friend is an exhibitionist, you're probably used to him suddenly bursting loudly into song in public places.

Exhibitionist is a fancy word for "show-off." If you're an exhibitionist, you crave the kind of reaction you get from being the center of attention. In some cases, an exhibitionist gets that attention by taking his or her clothes off in public — a streaker or flasher is also an exhibitionist. The word comes from the Old French exibicion, "show or display," from the Latin exhibere, "to show or present."

Definitions of exhibitionist

1. noun

   someone who deliberately behaves in such a way as to attract attention
   synonyms: show-off, showboat

   types:

   grandstander

   someone who performs with an eye to the applause from spectators in the grandstand

   hot dog, hotdog

   someone who performs dangerous stunts to attract attention to himself

   poser, poseur

   a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not

   poseuse

   a woman poseur

   type of:

   egoist, egotist, swellhead

   a conceited and self-centered person
2. noun

   someone with a compulsive desire to expose the genitals
   synonyms: flasher

   types:

   streaker

   someone who takes off all their clothes and runs naked through a public place

   type of:

   compulsive

   a person with a compulsive disposition; someone who feels compelled to do certain things