exotic

[ ig-zot-ik ]
See synonyms for: exoticexoticallyexoticness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized: exotic foods; exotic plants.

  2. strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance: an exotic hairstyle.

  1. of a uniquely new or experimental nature: exotic weapons.

  2. of, relating to, or involving stripteasing: the exotic clubs where strippers are featured.

noun
  1. something that is exotic: The flower show included several tropical exotics with showy blooms.

  2. an exotic dancer; a striptease dancer or belly dancer.

Origin of exotic

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin exōticus, from Greek exōtikós “foreign;” see exo-, -tic

Other words from exotic

  • ex·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • ex·ot·ic·ness, noun
  • non·ex·ot·ic, adjective
  • non·ex·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·ex·ot·ic, adjective
  • un·ex·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with exotic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use exotic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exotic

exotic

/ (ɪɡˈzɒtɪk) /


adjective
  1. originating in a foreign country, esp one in the tropics; not native: an exotic plant

  2. having a strange or bizarre allure, beauty, or quality

  1. NZ (of trees, esp pine trees) native to the northern hemisphere but cultivated in New Zealand: an exotic forest

  2. of or relating to striptease

noun
  1. an exotic person or thing

Origin of exotic

1
C16: from Latin exōticus, from Greek exōtikos foreign, from exō outside

Derived forms of exotic

  • exotically, adverb
  • exoticism, noun
  • exoticness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012