Exotic Meaning
/ɪɡˈzɒtɪk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjForeign, especially in an exciting way.
adjForeign, especially in an exciting way., Non-native to the ecosystem.
Sentence Examples
Her exotic perfume has a subtle scent.
In woodworking, we classify wood as hardwood, softwood or exotic wood.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The zoo's new exhibit featured an ____ bird with bright purple feathers from a distant jungle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden was filled with ____ plants and flowers that we had never seen before in our lives.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Middle French exotique, from Latin exōticus, from Ancient Greek ἐξωτικός (exōtikós, “foreign”, literally “from the outside”), from ἐξω- (exō-, “outside”), from ἐξ (ex, “out of”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Nothing was so splendid and exotic as the ambassador."
— 1682 December 3 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 24 November 1682]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:
"“Two or three months more went by ; the public were eagerly awaiting the arrival of this semi-exotic claimant to an English peerage, and sensations, surpassing those of the Tichbourne case, were looked forward to with palpitating interest.[…]”"
— 1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tremarn Case”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
"Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee."
— 2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:
"There were a few exotics among them — some South American boys, sons of Argentine beef barons, one or two Russians, and even a Siamese prince, or someone who was described as a prince."
— c. 1948, George Orwell, Such, Such Were the Joys:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The zoo's new exhibit featured an ____ bird with bright purple feathers from a distant jungle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden was filled with ____ plants and flowers that we had never seen before in our lives.