Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense flouts, present participle flouting, past tense, past participle flouted
verb
If you flout something such as a law, an order, or an accepted way of behaving, you deliberately do not obey it or follow it.
...illegal campers who persist in flouting the law. [VERB noun]
Building regulations have been habitually flouted. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: defy, scorn, spurn, scoff at More Synonyms of flout
flout in British English
(flaʊt)
verb
(whenintr, usually foll by at)
to show contempt (for); scoff or jeer (at)
▶ USAGE See note at flaunt
Derived forms
flouter (ˈflouter)
noun
floutingly (ˈfloutingly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: perhaps from Middle English flouten to play the flute, from Old French flauter compare Dutch fluiten; see flute
flout in American English
(flaʊt)
verb transitive
1.
to mock or scoff at; show scorn or contempt for
2.
to openly disregard, as by rejecting, defying, or ignoring
verb intransitive
3.
to be scornful; show contempt; jeer; scoff
noun
4.
a scornful or contemptuous action or speech; mockery; scoffing; insult
Derived forms
flouter (ˈflouter)
noun
floutingly (ˈfloutingly)
adverb
Word origin
prob. special use of ME flouten, to play the flute, hence, whistle (at)
Examples of 'flout' in a sentence
flout
Those who have publicly flouted the ban have faced jail.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its report emerged as one beggar was fined for flouting a ban 30 times.
The Sun (2017)
They called for companies to face fines for such discrimination and for employment tribunals to make awards against employers who flout the law.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The Government needs to bring in more stringent punishments for drivers who flout the law.
The Sun (2016)
The law is extensively flouted.
The Sun (2017)
There should be a crackdown on rogue companies who continue to flout the ban.
The Sun (2013)
Too often drivers who flout the law go on to cause serious crashes.
The Sun (2011)
Since then he has been caught flouting the ban twice.
The Sun (2010)
The upshot is that the data security laws are widely flouted and despised.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Sailors flouting the ban face being fined.
The Sun (2007)
It is unclear if health and environment officials will fine those who flout the laws on burning wood.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Earlier this week it emerged that drivers continued to flout laws banning the use of a mobile telephone while driving.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But the writ of the College was now routinely flouted.
Benjamin Woolley THE HERBALIST: Nicholas Culpeper Rebel Physician (2004)
He denied that the England team would have tried to flout the ban.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
From next year, agencies that flout the ban will face unlimited fines and closure.
The Sun (2009)
Anybody caught flouting the ban may face a fine of up to 1,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If an employer decides to flout the law, it may be guilty of criminal offences and subject to serious financial liability.
The Sun (2016)
Shoppers hit by problems are too often fobbed off by companies that flout laws designed to protect consumers, the advice service warned.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Protecting dictators for geopolitical gains, flouting international laws to protect themselves and lying to their people to justify wars do not help to promote liberal democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Far better, though, they tipped off the police that the law was being flouted and the whole operation was busted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
flout
British English: flout VERB
If you flout something such as a law, an order, or an accepted way of behaving, you deliberately do not obey it or follow it.
...illegal campers who persist in flouting the law.
American English: flout
Brazilian Portuguese: desrespeitar
Chinese: 无视
European Spanish: burlarse de
French: se moquer de
German: sich hinwegsetzen über
Italian: contravvenire a
Japanese: 公然と破る
Korean: > 어기다고의적으로
European Portuguese: desrespeitar
Latin American Spanish: burlarse de
Chinese translation of 'flout'
flout
(flaut)
vt
[law, convention]蔑视(視) (mièshì)
(verb)
Definition
to deliberately disobey (a rule, law, etc.)
illegal campers who persist in flouting the law
Synonyms
defy
This was the first time that I had dared to defy her.
scorn
people who scorned traditional methods
People scorn me as a single parent.
spurn
scoff at
outrageinsult
mock
I thought you were mocking me.
scout (archaic)
ridicule
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
taunt
Other youths taunted him about his clothes.
deride
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
sneer at
jeer at
take the piss out of (taboo, slang)
laugh in the face of
show contempt for
gibe at
treat with disdain
Opposites
mind
,
value
,
note
,
regard
,
respect
,
attend
,
honour
,
esteem
,
heed
,
revere
,
pay attention to
see flaunt
Seehiss
Synonyms of 'flout'
flout
Explore 'flout' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of scorn
Definition
to refuse to have or do (something) because it is felt to be undesirable or wrong
people who scorned traditional methodsPeople scorn me as a single parent.
Synonyms
despise,
reject,
disdain,
slight,
scout (archaic),
snub,
shun,
be above,
spurn,
rebuff,
deride,
flout,
look down on,
scoff at,
make fun of,
sneer at,
hold in contempt,
turn up your nose at (informal),
contemn,
curl your lip at,
consider beneath you
in the sense of taunt
Definition
to tease or provoke (someone) with jeering remarks