arrogance
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of arrogance
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin arrogantia “presumption”; see arrogant, -ance
Explanation
Arrogance is overbearing pride or haughtiness. If your friends are constantly complaining about your arrogance, you might want to lose the haughty attitude and try to be more humble. Arrogance comes from the Latin arrogans which means overbearing. If you show arrogance, your pride is overbearing and offensive to others. Arrogance can also be attributed to corporations who fail to take consumer opinion into account and to nations that seem to do whatever they want with no regard for other countries.
Vocabulary lists containing arrogance
The Westing Game
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Military-Industrial Complex" (1961)
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Thirteen Reasons Why
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tammy Nuccio was struck by his arrogance when she tangled with him as head of the town council in Tolland, outside Hartford.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
It isn’t an arrogance or nonchalant lack of passion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
That was a miscalculation, born of limitless arrogance and boundless stupidity.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Rayan Cherki: Glorious touches and dribbling skills, capped with a touch of genius and arrogance for his goals.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
It is not human arrogance that has taken us in this direction, but the most natural of natural events.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
