What does aggrandisement mean?
Aggrandisement refers to the act of increasing one's own power, wealth, importance, or rank, particularly when done in an excessive, ambitious, or self-serving manner. It is most often encountered in political and historical writing, where it describes rulers or states expanding their territory or influence, but it also appears in everyday criticism of individuals who pursue prominence for its own sake. The word carries a distinctly negative connotation: to accuse someone of aggrandisement is to suggest vanity, greed, or an unhealthy hunger for status. Its most familiar form is the compound "self-aggrandisement," describing the boosting of one's own image or standing. Spelled with an s in British English and a z (as "aggrandizement") in American English, it derives from the French verb aggrander, meaning to enlarge or make greater, which itself traces back to the Latin grandis, meaning great or large. Because it names a behaviour rather than a quality, it functions as a precise, pointed term in formal argument and commentary.
nounThe act of increasing one's own power, wealth, importance, or rank, especially in an excessive or self-serving way. It can also refer more generally to any enlargement or elevation in status.
- The action of increasing one's own power, wealth, or importance, typically at the expense of others or through self-serving means.
- A general increase or elevation in rank, status, or magnitude.
"Critics accused the mayor of using the new stadium project purely for his own aggrandisement."
"Historians argue that the emperor's relentless territorial aggrandisement ultimately hastened the empire's collapse."
"She dismissed the charity gala as little more than an exercise in corporate self-aggrandisement."
Rarely pluralised; the uncountable singular form is standard, though a plural may appear when referring to multiple distinct acts of self-enlargement.
"The biography catalogues the duke's many aggrandisements over four decades."
"Aggrandisement" is simply the British spelling of "aggrandizement" — same word, same ambition, just a different side of the Atlantic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aggrandisement
Aggrandisement comes from the French verb aggrander, meaning "to make greater or enlarge," formed from à plus grand (great), ultimately from the Latin grandis, meaning large or great. The term entered English in the late seventeenth century alongside the verb aggrandize, and has been used since then to describe the enlargement of power, territory, or importance. Its sibling forms share this Latinate root: grandeur, grandiose, and grand all descend from the same notion of greatness.
Related word forms
How aggrandisement is actually used
The word carries a strongly negative connotation and is used almost exclusively in formal or critical registers — political commentary, historical analysis, and moral criticism. The spelling "aggrandisement" is standard in British English, while American English favours "aggrandizement" with a z; both are pronounced similarly.
Easily confused with aggrandisement
Exaggeration is overstating something in description or claim, whereas aggrandisement is the actual act of enlarging one's power, wealth, or status.
Aggravation means making something worse or irritation, while aggrandisement means increasing one's own importance or power.