Definition

Noun: A person who believes that their own tastes, social status, or knowledge are superior to those of other people, and who often looks down on or treats with contempt those they consider to be of lower social class, education, or sophistication. This attitude is typically perceived as arrogant and annoying.

Usage

The word "snob" is used to describe a person whose behavior is characterized by condescension. It is a critical term. You can use it to talk about someone's general character or their behavior in a specific situation. * It is often used with verbs like: be, act like, sound like, consider someone a. * It is commonly modified by adjectives specifying the area of snobbery, such as wine snob, food snob, intellectual snob.

Examples

• General Character:
  • He's such a snob; he only talks to people who went to the same elite university.
  • Don't be a snob—just because they don't know about art doesn't mean they aren't interesting people.
• Specific Behavior:
  • She was acting like a total snob about the restaurant choice, insisting only a Michelin-starred place would do.
  • I felt like a snob for criticizing his taste in music.

Advanced Usage

• Inverted Snobbery: A conscious rejection of or contempt for the tastes, styles, or attitudes associated with high social status or sophistication, often seen as a reverse form of snobbishness.
  • His refusal to ever go to the opera wasn't about taste; it was pure inverted snobbery.
• Snob Appeal: The quality of something that makes it desirable because it is associated with wealth, high status, or exclusivity.
  • The brand relies heavily on its snob appeal to justify its high prices.

Variants and Related Words

• Snobbish (adjective): Having the characteristics of a snob; condescending.
  • Her snobbish remarks about the neighborhood were very off-putting.
• Snobbery (noun): The attitudes and behavior of a snob.
  • The club was known for its snobbery and exclusivity.
• Snobbism (noun): A less common synonym for "snobbery."
• Compound Nouns: These specify the object of the snobbery. Common examples include: .

Synonyms

• Elitist: A person who believes a system should be ruled or dominated by a select group (often overlapping with "snob" in attitude).
• Highbrow (noun, often used adjectivally): A person of scholarly or intellectual tastes (can be neutral or negative, implying snobbery).
• Pretentious person: Someone who attempts to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

Antonyms

• Down-to-earth person: A sensible and practical person who does not have an inflated opinion of themselves.
• Egalitarian: A person who believes in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Idioms and Phrases

• To be a snob about something: To display snobbish attitudes regarding a particular thing.
  • He's a real snob about beer, dismissing anything that isn't a craft IPA.
• Snob value: Similar to "snob appeal," the worth or desirability something has because it confers a sense of superior status.
  • The limited edition has little practical difference but high snob value.

Noun

1. a person regarded as arrogant and annoying