snob
UK: snɒb | US: snɑːb
n. a person who believes themselves superior to others due to their social status, wealth, or taste.
n. (historical) a term for a shoemaker or someone of low social standing (obsolete).
No data yet.
The word "snob" originated in late 18th-century England, initially as slang for a shoemaker or lower-class person. Its modern meaning evolved through Cambridge University slang, where "snob" was used to mock townspeople (non-students). By the 19th century, it shifted to describe someone who pretentiously mimics upper-class manners. The exact root is unclear, but it may derive from the Latin "sine nobilitate" (without nobility), abbreviated "s.nob."—though this theory is debated. The word’s irony lies in its journey from labeling the humble to the arrogant.
She’s such a snob—she refuses to eat at casual restaurants.
He acts like a wine snob, but he can’t tell a merlot from a cabernet.
The art gallery was full of snobs who pretended to understand abstract paintings.
Don’t be a snob; everyone deserves respect regardless of their background.
In Dickens’ novels, snobs are often satirized for their false pretensions.