snob

[ snob ]

noun

1. a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others.
2. a person who claims to be an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field:

   a musical snob.

snob

/ snɒb /

noun

1. 1. a person who strives to associate with those of higher social status and who behaves condescendingly to others Compare inverted snob
   2. ( as modifier )

      snob appeal

2. a person having similar pretensions with regard to his tastes, etc

   an intellectual snob

Derived Forms

• ˈsnobby, adjective
• ˈsnobbishness, noun
• ˈsnobbery, noun
• ˈsnobbish, adjective
• ˈsnobbishly, adverb

Other Words From

• an·ti·snob noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snob¹

First recorded in 1775–85; origin uncertain; first used as a nickname for “a cobbler or cobbler's apprentice,” hence “a townsman, someone of low class or lacking good breeding, commoner,” hence ”someone who imitates persons of higher rank”

Word History and Origins

Origin of snob¹

C18 (in the sense: shoemaker; hence, C19: a person who flatters those of higher station, etc): of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Matteo Salvini, leader of the populist right-wing Lega party and a notorious promoter of anti-immigration laws, called him “the champion of the left-wing snobs.”

From Time

Despite the fact that I can be a snob about audio quality, I genuinely love the experience of listening to music with smart glasses.

From Popular-Science

Via the Harlem Cultural Festival, which even a music snob like me didn’t even know about.

From Time

I wanted to bridge the gaps between the serious music snob, the audiophile, and the casual listener, a task on which Kay was eager to advise.

From Essence.com

So we try not to be honey snobs, but we do want people to understand there’s a difference, and what we consume does matter.

From Eater

You write a lot about how you were a jerk or a snob when it came to comedy or film.

From The Daily Beast

Read another way, she is a horrible mother, an uptight snob, and a bit of a shrew.

From The Daily Beast

Surely, an unreconstructed snob could misconstrue much more.

From The Daily Beast

What a snob ... Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college.

From The Daily Beast

He was educated, like Fleming, at Eton, but unlike his creator, he was no snob.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps, like father, I am a snob at heart and liked the sensation of a sort of artistic alliance with the British aristocracy.

From Project Gutenberg

"I and Disraeli put up at the same tavern last night," said a dandified snob, the other day.

From Project Gutenberg

The three children call him the "Party Bird" for he is always so dressed up, but their father says he is "a bit of a snob."

From Project Gutenberg

Or perhaps a species of snob who cannot see the difference between his own foolishness and the foolishness of others.

From Project Gutenberg

She knew him quite well for an ill-bred little snob at heart.

From Project Gutenberg