What does priggish mean?
Priggish describes a person, attitude, or manner marked by self-righteousness and excessive concern with propriety, convention, or moral superiority. The word is more censorious than prim: primness suggests exaggerated conventionality or fussiness, whereas priggishness suggests smug self-approval and a readiness to judge others. It commonly describes moralizing, rigid attitudes toward social behavior, and conspicuous assertions of virtue. Because the term is inherently disparaging, it is normally used in criticism rather than neutral description. A priggish person may insist on politeness, condemn unconventional conduct, or dismiss practical concerns in favor of lofty principles. In contemporary English, the word appears in both British and American usage, although it is particularly associated with British criticism of sanctimonious behavior. The related forms priggishly and priggishness are also common, with the noun often used to name the attitude or quality itself.
adjectiveSelf-righteous, smug, and often excessively moralizing in attitude or behavior.
- Self-righteous, smug, and excessively moralizing in attitude or behavior.
"His priggish insistence that etiquette mattered more than honesty ruined the evening."
"She dismissed the practical concerns with a priggish appeal to tradition."
"The committee's priggish response to criticism alienated several members."
Priggishness is not merely fussiness: its sharper charge is smug certainty about one's own moral superiority.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does priggish come from?
Priggish was formed by adding the suffix -ish to prig, a term for a conceited, smug, or self-important person. The origin of prig is uncertain, although the word was already in use by the early eighteenth century in a disparaging sense. Priggish subsequently developed the more specific sense of being self-righteously moral or excessively proper.
Related word forms
How priggish is actually used
The term is strongly disparaging and usually implies that a person is more concerned with appearing virtuous than with understanding others. It is especially associated with British usage, though it is also understood in American English.