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exhibitionism

/ˈɛksəˌbɪʃəˈnɪzəm/
IPA guide

Other forms: exhibitionisms

Exhibitionism Is acting in a way that deliberately and extravagantly draws attention to yourself. Your brother's exhibitionism might lead him to wear a colorful wig and a tuxedo for the first day of school.

There is a kind of exhibitionism that is considered a psychiatric illness — generally, this involves being naked, or partially naked, in public. The more ordinary type of exhibitionism also involves behavior that attracts notice, but it might be singing and dancing in a mall, wearing eccentric clothing, or another conspicuous way of acting. Exhibitionism comes from exhibit, "action of displaying," from the Latin exhibere, "to show or display."

Definitions of exhibitionism
  1. noun
    extravagant and conspicuous behavior intended to attract attention to yourself
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    type of:
    fanfare, flash, ostentation
    a gaudy outward display
  2. noun
    the perverse act of exposing and attracting attention to your own genitals
    synonyms: immodesty
    see moresee less
    type of:
    paraphilia
    abnormal sexual activity
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