conspicuous

What it means

1. Obvious or easy to notice.

   He was conspicuous by his absence.

   2 more examples

   “No, don't,” replied the superintendent; “in fact, I'd rather you made yourself conspicuous elsewhere. Go down to the landing stage and cross to New Brighton or Wallasey—doesn't matter which—and come back. No doubt you will be seen, and reported to have gone across.”

   1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 7, in Well Tackled!

   [...] 1. Handsignalmen, where needed, ought to wear a conspicuous orange/yellow cape (like many road workmen) to draw attention to them.

   1964 April, “Letters: Rethinking emergency procedures”, in Modern Railways, page 274

   Synonyms: apparent, evident, pointed, observable, perceivable, apparent, arrant, undoubted · Antonyms: inconspicuous

2. Noticeable or attracting attention, especially if unattractive.

   He had a conspicuous lump on his forehead.

   1 more example

   For his height he had a small face. The combination made him conspicuous.

   1969, Saul Bellow, Mr Sammler's Planet, Penguin Books Ltd, page 6

   Synonyms: attention-grabbing, flashy, prominent · Antonyms: inconspicuous

In a sentence

He was conspicuous by his absence.

Where it comes from

1. Latinconspicuus“visible, striking”
2. Englishconspicuous

From Latin conspicuus (“visible, striking”), from cōnspicere (“to notice”), from con- (“with, together”) + specere (“to look at”).