What does aggrandizement mean?
Aggrandizement refers to the act of making oneself — or occasionally something else — greater in power, rank, wealth, or importance, particularly when done in an excessive or self-interested way. The word almost always carries a critical edge: to accuse someone of aggrandizement is to suggest their ambitions are bloated or pursued at the expense of others. It is most often encountered in political and institutional contexts, as in complaints about a leader's 'relentless aggrandizement' of executive authority, and it frequently appears in its intensified form, 'self-aggrandizement.' Derived from the French verb 'agrandir,' meaning to enlarge or make grand, the term entered English in the seventeenth century alongside the verb 'aggrandize.' Formal in tone, it suits editorial writing, history, and serious commentary rather than casual conversation. A useful word precisely because it names a familiar human failing — the hunger to grow bigger — with precision and force.
nounThe act of increasing the power, importance, or wealth of oneself or something else, especially in an excessive or self-serving way.
- The action of increasing one's own power, wealth, or importance, typically at others' expense or in a self-serving manner.
"Critics accused the mayor of using the new stadium project purely for his own aggrandizement."
"The dictator's relentless aggrandizement of his own office left parliament with little real authority."
"She wrote the memoir not for personal aggrandizement but to set the historical record straight."
Rarely pluralized; the singular is overwhelmingly preferred since the concept is usually discussed as a general tendency rather than countable instances.
"The biography catalogues the cardinal's many aggrandizements over four decades."
Aggrandizement comes from the French 'agrandir' — literally 'to make grand' — so when someone is accused of it, they're quite literally being charged with making themselves too big.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aggrandizement
Aggrandizement derives from the French verb 'agrandir,' meaning 'to enlarge or make greater,' which itself traces back through 'a-' (from Latin 'ad-') to 'grand,' ultimately from the Latin adjective 'grandis,' meaning great or large. The noun entered English in the early seventeenth century together with the verb 'aggrandize,' reflecting French influence on English political and literary vocabulary of that period. Cognates include the English words 'grand' and 'grandeur,' which share the same Latin root. In British English the variant spelling 'aggrandisement' is also accepted.
Related word forms
How aggrandizement is actually used
Aggrandizement carries a strongly negative connotation, implying ambition that is excessive, vain, or self-serving. It is formal in register and appears most often in political commentary, criticism of public figures, and discussions of institutional power. The related form 'self-aggrandizement' is even more common and explicitly centers the self-serving aspect. In British English the spelling 'aggrandisement' (with an s) is also standard.
Easily confused with aggrandizement
Aggravation means irritation or the worsening of a situation, while aggrandizement means the enlargement of one's power or status.