What does snooty mean?
Snooty is an informal adjective for a person, manner, or attitude that displays arrogance, self-importance, or contempt for others. It is especially common in criticism of people who treat social position, taste, wealth, or status as reasons to regard themselves as superior. A snooty attitude may be conveyed through haughty remarks, deliberate condescension, or an obvious desire to keep others at a distance. The word usually carries a disapproving connotation: it describes behavior that seems elitist or rude rather than merely confident or discerning. In older and less common usage, snooty can also refer literally to a prominent or upturned nose. Because it is conversational rather than formal, it is common in journalism, criticism, and everyday speech but usually avoided in neutral encyclopedic writing. The word is useful when the focus is not simply on having strong opinions but on the unpleasant superiority implied in expressing them.
adjectiveInformal adjective meaning arrogant, supercilious, or self-important in manner or attitude. In a rare, chiefly older sense, it means having a prominent or upturned nose.
- Arrogant, supercilious, or self-important in manner or attitude.
- Rarely and in older usage, having a prominent or upturned nose.
"Her snooty remarks about other people's accents made everyone uncomfortable."
"Her snooty remarks about other people's accents made everyone uncomfortable."
"The boutique's snooty sales staff made first-time shoppers feel unwelcome."
It began with a nose: snooty was built from the word for a prominent snout before becoming our word for looking down on others.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snooty come from?
Snooty was formed in the early 20th century by adding the suffix -y to snoot. Snoot was a colloquial variant of snout, a word for the projecting nose or muzzle of an animal; snout ultimately continues Old English snūt, referring to an animal's nose or nostril. The figurative sense for arrogant or supercilious behavior subsequently became dominant.
Related word forms
How snooty is actually used
Informal and generally disapproving. It is used especially for conspicuous displays of social superiority, elitism, or disdain for others. The literal sense relating to a prominent nose is rare and dated.
Easily confused with snooty
Snooty means arrogant or self-important, whereas snotty usually means irritated or bad-tempered.