What does caddishness mean?
Caddishness is the quality of behaving in a selfish, rude, or unprincipled way, especially in a way that advantages oneself while disregarding others. The word is closely associated with the disparaging noun cad and with the adjective caddish, both of which present such conduct as a moral fault rather than an ordinary disagreement. In use, caddishness suggests more than plain rudeness: it can imply callousness, opportunism, or deliberate discourtesy, depending on the context. Writers may apply it to actions in personal relationships, public life, or sport, where one person's behavior unfairly exploits or demeans another. Because the term is emphatic and disapproving, it is best reserved for conduct that clearly warrants moral criticism. It remains recognizable in formal and literary English, though it is less common in casual contemporary speech than words such as rudeness or selfishness.
nounThe impudent, unprincipled, or selfish behavior characteristic of a cad.
- Rude, selfish, impudent, or unprincipled behavior regarded as characteristic of a cad.
"He was held up for the caddishness with which he treated his former colleagues."
"His caddishness during the negotiation alienated both sides of the dispute."
"The novel portrays the politician's caddishness through his willingness to betray allies whenever doing so suited him."
The plural is possible but uncommon; caddishness is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"His repeated caddishnesses at the club made him unwelcome among the other members."
Caddishness is literally “the quality of being caddish”—a double layer of disapproval: first the insult cad, then the behavior named by -ness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of caddishness
Caddishness is an English formation. Caddish was made from cad with the suffix -ish, and caddishness was formed from caddish with the noun-forming suffix -ness. The deeper etymology of cad is uncertain, with proposals linking it to Scots caddie and French cadet. Cognate English formations include caddish and the adverb caddishly.
How caddishness is actually used
The noun has a strongly disapproving, somewhat literary or old-fashioned tone. It implies moral fault rather than merely describing an impolite or unpopular act.