egregious

Egregious is an adjective used to describe something that is conspicuously bad or wrong. It implies a breach of norms or expectations that is so obvious as to be almost shocking. In everyday and formal usage, egregious is used to condemn acts, omissions, or decisions that stand out for their magnitude or offensiveness, such as an egregious error, an egregious violation of rules, or an egregious lapse in judgment.

Origin of the term lies in Latin: egregius, meaning distinguished or excellent, from ex- “out of” and greg- “flock” or “herd.” The original sense was positive, describing something standing out from the herd in a favorable way. Over time, English usage shifted toward a pejorative meaning: “remarkably bad” or “flagrant.”

Usage notes: Egregious is a strong descriptor often found in journalism, criticism, and policy or legal discussions. It tends to pair with nouns like error, violation, misconduct, omission, or lapse. It is stronger than words such as notable or serious, and can feel rhetorical or emphatic. It is typically used in negative contexts and is usually avoided for neutral reporting.

Example: The company faced backlash for an egregious violation of safety standards, prompting new oversight and reforms.