ex·ot·ic
ig-ˈzä-tik 
1
: introduced from another country : not native to the place where found
exotic plants
… exotic species creating havoc when introduced into new environments.—
Chemical & Engineering News
Chemical & Engineering News2
: strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual
exotic flavors
Until very recently the alpaca was an exotic sight at county fairs and petting zoos in the metropolitan region.—Glenn Collins
Glenn Collins3
: of or relating to striptease : involving or featuring exotic dancers
exotic dancing
an exotic nightclub
plural exotics
Synonyms of exotic
Examples of exotic in a Sentence
Adjective
She's known for her exotic tastes.
the gradual disappearance of exotic lands in a culturally homogenized world
Noun
Some native species are being crowded out by exotics.
the botanical garden boasts an array of horticultural exotics from around the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
This superpowered dark energy, dubbed phantom dark energy, invokes exotic physics.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
Native to Brazil and other South American and Central American countries, colorful peacock bass were stocked in South Florida canals in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to control the population of undesirable exotics like tilapia.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exotic
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Adjective
By showing that two different kagome materials exhibit the same exotic excitations and that these observations align with theory, the study strengthens the case that quantum spin liquids are real, robust phases of matter.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
This superpowered dark energy, dubbed phantom dark energy, invokes exotic physics.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Noun
Picky types should note that this car exhibits build quality unknown in previous Lamborghinis, which, like so many Italian and British exotics of the 20th century, have shown marginal attention to details, large and small.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
Native to Brazil and other South American and Central American countries, colorful peacock bass were stocked in South Florida canals in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to control the population of undesirable exotics like tilapia.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exotic
Cite this Entry
“Exotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exotic. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exotic
1 of 2 adjective
ex·ot·ic
ig-ˈzät-ik
1
: introduced from another country
exotic plants
2
: very different or unusual
exotic colors
exotic
2 of 2 noun
: something (as a plant) that is exotic
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