aggrandizement

American  

[uh-gran-diz-muhnt] / əˈgræn dɪz mənt /

especially British, aggrandisement

noun

1. an act or instance of aggrandizing, or increasing in size, or intensity.

   aggrandizement of mercantile trade in the early colonies.

2. the act of making something appear greater than is actually warranted by the facts.

   Some saw it as ego aggrandizement.

3. expansion of power, wealth, rank, or honor.

   The department was used for the aggrandizement of its leaders.

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Usage

What does aggrandizement mean? Aggrandizement refers to the act of making something larger or greater. It specifically refers to inflating something or making someone appear more important or powerful than they really are. This word is often seen in self-aggrandizement, or “the act of making oneself more important, powerful, or wealthy.” Aggrandizement is spelled with an S, aggrandisement, in British English. Example: Concerned about the unintended aggrandizement of her accomplishments, the philanthropist did not conduct interviews about her work.

Etymology

Origin of aggrandizement

1655–1665; aggrandize ( def. ) + -ment, influenced by French agrandissement, aggrandissement

Explanation

Aggrandizement is the act of enlarging or expanding something's power or status. It's hard sometimes to tell if politicians run for office in order to help their communities, or just for their own aggrandizement. Aggrandizement is the noun form of the verb aggrandize, "to increase the power or reputation of something," and it usually implies that there's some exaggeration going on. If your friend spread the story of how you had saved a drowning child at the beach, when actually you'd only yelled for the lifeguard, and if you didn't correct him or set the story straight, you'd be participating in the aggrandizement of your reputation.

Example Sentences

His motives, Mr. Hemming concludes, were neither for gold nor aggrandizement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The sentencing judge found that Peters was motivated by vanity and personal aggrandizement rather than genuine concern for election integrity, describing her as a charlatan who used her former position to peddle disproven claims.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2025

Sen. Patty Murray is the kind of politician who can be trusted to use her seniority for productive work, not personal aggrandizement or self-promotion.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2022

Mr. O’Toole, for his part, has sought to portray the vote as an act of personal aggrandizement.

From New York Times • Sep. 18, 2021

I had never dreamed that anyone would accept me so simply, so completely, without question or the least hint of personal aggrandizement.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright