Egregious Meaning
/ɪˈɡɹiː.d͡ʒəs/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjConspicuous, exceptional, outstanding; usually in a negative sense.
adjOutrageously bad; shocking.
Sentence Examples
The group's infractions were so egregious that we were forced to arrest them.
He would never make a mistake this egregious.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The referee made an ____ error that cost the team the game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The group's infractions were so ____ that we were forced to arrest them.
Word Origin & History
From Latin ēgregius, from e- (“out of”), + grex (“flock”), + English adjective suffix -ous, from Latin suffix -osus (“full of”); reflecting the positive connotations of "standing out from the flock".
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"My lord, you give me most egregious indignity."
— c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
"Good Heaven! when we observe what egregious nonsense other people talk, what woful follies other people commit, sure we must be tempted to turn upon ourselves and ask—"What do I do that is equally silly?""
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXXI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 257:
"She's sitting opposite a window that's gently breezing into her face, wafting her hair into cover-girl perfection ... It's a little moment that seems to encapsulate her appeal: ... her gorgeousness being so egregious that even breezes oblige with their tousle-fanning effects ..."
— 2014 January 21, Hermione Hoby, “Julia Roberts interview for August: Osage County – 'I might actually go to hell for this ...': Julia Roberts reveals why her violent, Oscar-nominated performance in August: Osage County made her feel 'like a terrible person' [print version: 'I might actually go to hell for this ...' (18 January 2014, p. R4)]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):
"Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. / Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]"
— 1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The referee made an ____ error that cost the team the game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The group's infractions were so ____ that we were forced to arrest them.