parvenu
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.
being or resembling a parvenu.
characteristic of a parvenu.
Origin of parvenu
1Other words from parvenu
- par·ve·nu·dom, noun
- par·ve·nu·ism, noun
Words Nearby parvenu
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use parvenu in a sentence
The song in question is “All About That Bass,” an L.A. Reid shepherded anthem courtesy of 20-year-old parvenu Meghan Trainor.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit | Marlow Stern | October 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI'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 Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThe squire's son-in-law was quite aware that the wealthy Mr. Sleek was a parvenu.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsHis excellency bowed slightly, the parvenu humbled himself lower than the earth, then they chatted for a moment.
The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
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!
The Woman Gives | Owen JohnsonIn a word, putting one in mind of the parvenu in the ‘Walpurgis Nacht.’
The Romany Rye | George Borrow
British Dictionary definitions for parvenu
/ (ˈpɑːvəˌnjuː) /
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
of or characteristic of a parvenu
Origin of parvenu
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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