Word of the Day

: September 8, 2021

egregious

adjective ih-GREE-juss

What It Means

Egregious means "obviously or noticeably bad."

// It is an egregious breach of theater etiquette to not shut off one's cell phone during the performance.

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egregious in Context

"He made egregious hiring decisions. He oversaw contracts handed out to friends and family." — editorial, The Forest Park Review (Oak Park, Illinois), 11 Aug. 2021

Did You Know?

Egregious comes from a Latin word meaning "distinguished" or "eminent." It was once a compliment to someone who had a remarkably good quality that placed him or her above others. Today, the meaning of the word is noticeably less complimentary, possibly as a result of ironic use of its original sense.