conspicuous

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈspɪkjʊəs/

adjective

  • clearly visible: he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam’s apple
  • attracting notice or attention: he showed conspicuous bravery

Phrases

conspicuous by one's absence

obviously not present where one or it should be: ratepayers grumbled that the police were conspicuous by their absence
[from a speech made by Lord John Russell in an address to electors (1859): taken from Tacitus (Annals iii. 76)]

Derivatives

conspicuity

noun

conspicuously

adverb

conspicuousness

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin conspicuus (from conspicere 'look at attentively', from con- (expressing intensive force) + spicere 'look at') + -ous

Spelling help

Remember that the ending of conspicuous is spelled -uous.