meretricious

The definition of meretricious is attracting attention in a vulgar to flashy way.

(adjective)

An example of a meretricious person is a prostitute.

See meretricious in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Origin: L meretricius < meretrix (gen. meretricis), a prostitute < mereri, to serve for hire, earn: see merit

Related Forms:

See meretricious in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

a. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner: meretricious ornamentation. See Synonyms at gaudy¹.
b. Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.
Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.

Origin:

Origin: Latin meretrīcius, of prostitutes

Origin: , from meretrīx, meretrīc-, prostitute

Origin: , from merēre, to earn money; see (s)mer-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

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