Egregious
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/
Definitions
Outstandingly bad; shocking; flagrant.
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/
Outstandingly bad; shocking
The company's environmental damage was an egregious example of corporate irresponsibility.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone makes a HUGE mistake – like, they spill paint all over the walls of your house, then they try to hide it with glitter. That's egregious! It's a mistake that's super bad and noticeable.
👶 For kids: When something is egregious, it means it is very, very bad.
More Examples
His egregious behavior during the meeting earned him a reprimand.
The egregious mistake in the report led to a lot of problems.
How It's Used
"The team's egregious errors led to their defeat."
"The judge declared the defendant's actions an egregious violation of the law."
Idioms & expressions
egregious behavior
Actions that are shockingly bad or offensive.
"The coach's egregious behavior toward the referees resulted in a lengthy suspension."
From Latin *ēgregius* ('outstanding, eminent'), from *ex grege* ('out of the flock, extraordinary'). Originally meant 'remarkable,' it evolved to mean 'conspicuously bad' due to its use to describe actions that stood out, particularly in a negative context.
Originally, 'egregious' meant 'distinguished' or 'remarkable,' and could have positive connotations. Over time, the meaning shifted to emphasize the negative aspect, highlighting something that stood out in a bad way.
Memory tip
Think of an 'egg' that's so rotten it's 'egregiously' bad. It stands out because it's awful.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: ex grege