What does it mean when a woman is exotic?

Question

I always wondered what it means. Does it mean she looks mysterious? She's a "foreigner?" I see that word used frequently on here to describe a non-American woman. Why can't American woman be exotic looking? Or is it usually "other than" your own race/nationality? Or non-white?

Answer 1

"Exotic" I think, just means anything that they are not used to. So white women are not exotic here in America, but if we went to a non-white country, we would be exotic for those men.

It doesn't just mean dark features...in America, that's usually what it is because we're so used to white women, but in another country someone with lighter features would be the exotic one.

Answer 2

Have you looked in a dictionary? ex·ot·ic (g-ztk) adj. 1. From another part of the world; foreign: exotic tropical plants in a greenhouse. 2. Intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange: "If something can be explained simply, in a familiar way, then it is best to avoid more exotic explanations" (Chet Raymo). See Synonyms at fantastic. 3. Of or involving striptease: an exotic dancer. n. 1. One that is exotic. 2. A striptease performer. [Latin exticus, from Greek extikos, from ex, outside; see exo-.] ex·oti·cal·ly adv. ex·otic·ness n. exotic Adjective 1. having a strange allure or beauty 2. originating in a foreign country; not native Noun a non-native plant [Greek exō outside] exotically adv One would hope that he was using the 1st adjectival form:)

Answer 3

Gosh is that word back? I honestly haven't heard it since it was used to describe certain movie stars in grandma's time. Interesting, and yes it was reserved for stars few can recall any more such as Merle Oberon, who was half east Indian, and Marta Toren, whose nationality I don't recall. It may have also been used to describe the young Yvonne de Carlo, an American who later played Lily Munster. I do believe it is generally used to describe dark women of foreign or mixed heritage, never for blue eyed blonds. I do agree that Angelina Jolie fits that description, as in my opinion Sophia Loren does or has.

Answer 4

I beleive it is when a woman has rare traits. American women can be some of the most exotic because of the blend of culture.

Answer 5

I know text book definition is not what you are looking for. But, I believe you said you lived in an Arab country. If you did, you would surely know that blondes are considered exotic in those areas because they are very rare. So, it's the opposite here, I guess.


Shark - you always crack me up! How DO you do it?!

Answer 6

Exotic conveys imagery of faraway lands - one thinks of the topless women of Tahiti (before those damn missionaries came and shamed them into wearing tops) or belly dancers of the middle east.

It's likely a term that's a vestige from explorer days. Men like Magellan and his crew no doubt returned with tales of exotic lands with exotic women.

Today, "exotic" refers to anyone who has a tan and weighs less than 200 pounds (which still eliminates about 40% of the US female population).

Answer 7

to me exotic means something other than the norm on a person's face. You don't have to be "beautiful" to be exotic, just something different that stands out as compared to the rest of you.Be it ur hair, skin, eyes ,lips or even ur cheekbones. Some IT factor that makes u stand out and be noticed.

Answer 8

"Exotic" is a woman who looks very different from you. For someone who is light skinned, exotic women are dark skinned, dark haired, and have different types of facial features. To someone who is dark skinned, a woman who is light skinned and has blond hair is exotic.

Answer 9

exotic can be used to describe a American women

however what it means from a mans point of view is different yet sexy

Answer 10

exotic is defined as anything "not native" or "not common" to a certain location.
when a woman is called exotic in the US it means she is not from the US (obviously, but it's correct).