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parvenu
[ pahr-vuh-noo, -nyoo, pahr-vuh-noo, -nyoo ]
noun
- a person who has recently or suddenly acquired wealth, importance, position, or the like, but has not yet developed the conventionally appropriate manners, dress, surroundings, etc.
adjective
- being or resembling a parvenu.
- characteristic of a parvenu.
parvenu
/ ˈpɑːvəˌnjuː /
noun
- a person, esp a man, who, having risen socially or economically, is considered to be an upstart or to lack the appropriate refinement for his or her new position
adjective
- of or characteristic of a parvenu
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Other Words From
- parve·nudom noun
- parve·nu·ism noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of parvenu1
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Example Sentences
The song in question is “All About That Bass,” an L.A. Reid shepherded anthem courtesy of 20-year-old parvenu Meghan Trainor.
I've never understood this fixation some people, especially the social striver-parvenu types, have with fancy watches.
On his head was the second-hand hat of some parvenu's coachman, gold lace, cockade and all.
The squire's son-in-law was quite aware that the wealthy Mr. Sleek was a parvenu.
His excellency bowed slightly, the parvenu humbled himself lower than the earth, then they chatted for a moment.
Our aim, after all, is the same as the business parvenu; we want to do the things others do at the top—what we call the top!
In a word, putting one in mind of the parvenu in the ‘Walpurgis Nacht.’
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