flaubert: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “flaubert” mean?
A proper noun referring to Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880), a highly influential French novelist of the realist school, best known for his scrupulous attention to style and his pioneering use of free indirect discourse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880), a highly influential French novelist of the realist school, best known for his scrupulous attention to style and his pioneering use of free indirect discourse.
By extension, used to refer to a person or thing embodying the qualities associated with Flaubert's work: meticulous literary craftsmanship, realism, stylistic precision, or a concern with the tedium of bourgeois life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties, confined primarily to literary and academic contexts.
Connotations
Connotes high literary culture, precision, realism, and sometimes a critique of bourgeois values.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “flaubert” in a Sentence
[Author] Flaubert wrote [Work][Work] by Flaubertthe style of FlaubertVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flaubert” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A Flaubertian attention to detail characterised her prose.
- The novel's Flaubertian depiction of provincial life was praised.
American English
- His Flaubertian obsession with the mot juste slowed his output.
- The review noted the film's Flaubertian realism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in literature, comparative literature, and history departments. E.g., 'The thesis explores Flaubert's influence on modern narrative.'
Everyday
Rare, except among educated individuals discussing literature.
Technical
Used in literary criticism and stylistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flaubert”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flaubert”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flaubert”
- Misspelling as 'Flaubart', 'Flauber'. Incorrectly using it as a common noun (e.g., 'He is a flaubert'). Incorrect pronunciation stressing the second syllable in British English.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A pioneering 19th-century French novelist, a leading exponent of literary realism, famous for 'Madame Bovary' and 'Sentimental Education'.
He revolutionized prose style with his focus on le mot juste (the exact word) and his innovative use of narrative techniques like free indirect discourse.
It describes a style or attitude characterized by meticulous realism, irony, stylistic perfectionism, and a detached, objective perspective.
No, it is a proper noun with very low frequency, used almost exclusively in literary and academic discussions.
A proper noun referring to Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880), a highly influential French novelist of the realist school, best known for his scrupulous attention to style and his pioneering use of free indirect discourse.
Flaubert is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Flaubert: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfləʊbeə/, and in American English it is pronounced /floʊˈbɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The agony and the ecstasy of Flaubert”
- “A Flaubertian sentence (meaning an extremely polished, laboriously crafted sentence)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FLOwer-BEAR' - Flaubert bore the flower of realism in literature.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLAUBERT IS PRECISION (e.g., 'He edited with Flaubertian rigour.')
Practice
Quiz
What is Flaubert most famously associated with?