What does priggishness mean?
Priggishness denotes a self-satisfied attitude in which a person assumes that their own standards are superior and expects others to approve of them. It commonly refers to smug moralizing, excessive concern with propriety, or an affected desire to appear virtuous. The word is usually critical rather than neutral: describing conduct as priggish suggests that apparent concern for right conduct is driven less by genuine principle than by self-regard or a wish to display superiority. In less pointed contexts, it can describe generally prim, pedantic, or conventional behavior. Priggishness is especially noticeable in public admonitions, moral lectures, and conspicuously proper conduct. The related adjective is priggish, while prigg is chiefly a historical term for a person regarded as affectedly proper or self-righteous. Together, these words belong to a vocabulary of social criticism used to describe behavior that may appear respectable but is perceived as presumptuous or insincere.
nounPriggishness is smug, self-righteous moral superiority, especially when expressed through affected displays of propriety or concern. It can also refer generally to an air of priggish affectation.
- Smug, self-righteous moral superiority, especially expressed through affected displays of propriety.
- A generally prim, pedantically proper, or self-satisfied manner.
"Her constant priggishness made it impossible to discuss the issue without feeling judged."
"He was embarrassed by the priggishness of his public objection to the painting."
"The speech contained a good deal of moralizing and priggishness."
"Her concern for proper etiquette seemed less like kindness than priggishness."
Used when referring to multiple instances of priggish behavior or attitudes.
"The novel satirizes the priggishnesses of provincial society."
Priggishness is the art of being pleased with your own virtue—especially when someone else has to hear about it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does priggishness come from?
Priggishness is an English noun formed from the adjective priggish by adding the suffix -ness, with priggish itself derived from prigg. The older word prigg was used for a person regarded as affectedly proper, prim, or self-righteous; the sense has since become largely historical, while priggish and priggishness remain available for describing similar qualities.
Related word forms
How priggishness is actually used
Usually critical and mildly disapproving. It is more common in formal or literary criticism than in casual speech and conveys a stronger sense of affected self-satisfaction than merely being quietly conservative.
Easily confused with priggishness
A prigg is a person regarded as affectedly proper or self-righteous, whereas priggishness is the quality or behavior that characterizes such a person.
Prudish behavior is chiefly marked by excessive conventionality or restraint, while priggishness more specifically suggests smug moral self-satisfaction.