What does snort mean?
To snort is to make a short, forceful sound through the nose, often as a result of heavy breathing, surprise, amusement, or contempt. The word can describe a physical action, as when an animal snorts or someone snorts during sleep, and it can also describe a person’s dismissive reaction: a snort of laughter or a snort of disbelief. As a noun, a snort is the sound produced or the act of making it. The expression is especially useful when someone communicates skepticism or disapproval nonverbally, since a snort can convey irritation or derision in a brief and often visibly impolite way. Although the sound can be involuntary, people also deliberately snort to mock, ridicule, or express disbelief. The word is familiar in both British and American English and appears in ordinary conversation as well as in descriptions of animals and fiction.
To make a short, harsh sound through the nose, especially by inhaling or exhaling forcefully; to express amusement, contempt, or disbelief with such a sound.
"The boy snorted and rolled his eyes at the suggestion."
The figurative sense often implies laughter, skepticism, or disapproval and can be mildly rude depending on context.
A short, harsh nasal sound; a sound made with the nose that expresses amusement, contempt, disbelief, or surprise.
"Her response was a snort of disbelief."
Common constructions include “a snort of laughter,” “a snort of contempt,” and “a snort of surprise.”
The plural is used for individual nasal sounds or acts of snorting.
"The mule kicked and let out several loud snorts."
A snort can convey contempt without a single word: in some contexts, it says more than an entire sarcastic reply.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snort come from?
The word comes from Old English snortan, an imitative verb formed to represent a sharp nasal sound. Its nasal quality and its resemblance to similar words in other Germanic languages reflect the common tendency to name sounds after the noise they produce. The noun developed from the same historical verb and has long been used for both literal nasal noises and figurative expressions of contempt or amusement.
Related word forms
How snort is actually used
The verb is common in informal and literary contexts. The sense meaning to express contempt or amusement is often used figuratively, while the sound-related senses can describe people, animals, or machinery.
Easily confused with snort
A snort is a forceful nasal sound, whereas a sneer is primarily a facial expression or verbal act expressing contempt.
A sniff draws air through the nose to smell or detect something, while a snort forcefully expels air through the nose.