self-appointed

American

[self-uh-poin-tid] / ˈsɛlf əˈpɔɪn tɪd /

adjective

chosen by oneself to act in a certain capacity or to fulfill a certain function, especially pompously or self-righteously.

a self-appointed guardian of the public's morals.

self-appointed British

adjective

having assumed authority without the agreement of others

a self-appointed critic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

self-appointment

noun

Etymology

Origin of self-appointed

First recorded in 1790–1800

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.

Had one not been so busy one could have got a good deal of fun out of the Self-Appointed Spy-Catcher.

From Experiences of a Dug-out, 1914-1918 by Callwell, C. E. (Charles Edward), Sir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023