prig

¹ American  

[prig] / prɪg /

noun

1. a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner.

   Synonyms:

   bluenose, puritan, prude

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prig ² American  

[prig] / prɪg /

verb (used with object)

prigged, prigging

1. Chiefly British. to steal.

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verb (used without object)

prigged, prigging

1. Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.

2. British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.

noun

1. Chiefly British. a thief.

prig ¹ British  

/ prɪɡ /

verb

1. another word for steal

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noun

1. another word for thief

prig ² British  

/ prɪɡ /

noun

1. a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded

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Other Word Forms

• priggery noun
• priggish adjective
• priggishly adverb
• priggism noun

Etymology

Origin of prig¹

First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, “coxcomb”; perhaps akin to prink

Origin of prig²

First recorded in 1505–15; originally thieves' cant; origin uncertain

Explanation

If you act like you're better than everyone else, they might start calling you a prig — a snobby and arrogant person. A prig might lecture his friends about their manners, or complain about having to eat at a diner instead of a fancier restaurant. Prigs tend to be self-centered and uptight and aren't much fun to be around. In the eighteenth century, prig meant "precise in speech in manners," and implied someone who was deeply religious. The origin of the word is a mystery — its earlier meanings included "dandy or fop" and "thief."

Example Sentences

The Professor, Sonia’s father, is a selfish and pompous prig who hates Vanya as much as Vanya hates him.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2023

But the benevolent smile lurking under the pre-World War I mustache is deceiving: The man is a sanctimonious prig who siphons all the fun out of life.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2019

Bill Clinton and his defenders were accusing an investigator of being a power-mad prig.

From Washington Post • Dec. 18, 2017

Kelly’s piece painted Clinton as a moralist, a meddler, a prig.

From Slate • Jul. 24, 2016

“Poor Bors. I hope he was not too much of a prig about it?”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• goody two-shoes
• goody-goody