The word "egregious" describes something that is shockingly bad or extraordinary in a negative way. It often refers to actions or behaviors that are not only bad, but also stand out because of their severity or outrageousness. For example, if someone committed a egregious foul during a game, it means that the foul was not just wrong, but extremely so, possibly in a way that grabs everyone’s attention.
The word "egregious" originates from the Latin word "egregius," which means "distinguished" or "eminent." Over time, it evolved in English to take on a negative connotation, referring to something that stands out in a bad way.