What does arrogant mean?
Arrogant is an adjective describing someone who has an exaggerated sense of their own importance, abilities, or worth, and who behaves as though they are superior to others. An arrogant person may dismiss other people's opinions, refuse to admit mistakes, or speak in a condescending manner. The word is invariably negative in tone: while confidence and self-assurance are generally admired, arrogance suggests that a person's self-belief is unearned, excessive, or offensive to those around them. Arrogant can also describe actions or statements — an arrogant decision, for example, is one made presumptuously, without regard for others. The word derives from the Latin arrogare, meaning 'to claim for oneself', which captures its essence: the arrogant individual claims more importance than they are entitled to. Common collocations include 'arrogant attitude' and phrases such as 'come across as arrogant'. Its noun form is arrogance, and its adverb form is arrogantly. Because the term is a pointed criticism, it is often used in debates, workplace feedback, and character assessments to signal that someone's self-regard has crossed the line into disrespect.
adjectiveHaving or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities; behaving as though one is superior to others.
- Excessively proud and self-important; believing oneself to be better than others.
- (Of behaviour, statements, or claims) Offensively bold or presumptuous in asserting oneself.
"He was too arrogant to admit that anyone else's idea might be better than his own."
"Her arrogant dismissal of the interns' questions made the whole team uncomfortable."
"It would be arrogant of me to assume I know what's best for everyone."
The word 'arrogant' literally means 'claiming for oneself' — from Latin arrogare, 'to demand as one's own right' — so an arrogant person is, quite literally, someone who claims more than their share.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arrogant
Arrogant comes from the Latin verb arrogare, meaning 'to claim for oneself' or 'to assume as one's own right', formed from ad- ('towards') and rogare ('to ask'). The word entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, with adjective use well established by the early modern period. It shares its Latin root with arrogate, which retains the original sense of unjustly claiming something, and more distantly with words built on rogare such as interrogate and abrogate.
Related word forms
How arrogant is actually used
Arrogant is always pejorative — it carries strong negative connotation and implies not just confidence but unwarranted superiority. It is common in both formal and informal contexts. Distinguish it from confident or assertive, which are neutral or positive: calling someone arrogant is a criticism, whereas confident can be praise.
Easily confused with arrogant
Arrogant is an adjective describing a superior, self-important manner, while arrogate is a verb meaning to claim or seize something (such as power or rights) without justification.