egregious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
    gross; flagrant; rank; crying; glaring.
    • a crying shame
    • an egregious lie
    • flagrant violation of human rights
    • a glaring error
    • gross ineptitude
    • gross injustice
    • rank treachery

WordNet


E*gre"gious adjective
Etymology
L. egregius; lit., separated or chosen from the herd, i. e., distinguished, excellent; e out + grex, gregis, herd. See Gregarious.
Definitions
  1. Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); -- formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined with words having a bad sense; as, an egregious rascal; an egregious ass; an egregious mistake.
    The egregious impudence of this fellow. Bp. Hall.
    His [Wyclif's] egregious labors are not to be neglected. Milton.

Webster 1913