conceit
C1Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
An excessively high opinion of oneself or one's own importance; excessive pride.
1. A fanciful or witty idea or expression, often elaborate or paradoxical (literary). 2. An artistic device or effect, especially one that is overly elaborate or self-conscious.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is strongly negative, implying arrogance. The literary meaning (an elaborate metaphor) is neutral but specialised, used in criticism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the same core and literary definitions.
Connotations
Negative connotations of arrogance are universal. The literary 'conceit' (as in 'metaphysical conceit') is equally understood.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK literary/academic contexts, but overall frequency is similar and low in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be + adjective + with + conceit (He was bloated with conceit).[Subject] + have + the conceit + to-infinitive (He had the conceit to think he could win).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be puffed up with conceit”
- “in a fit of conceit”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in critiques of leadership: 'The CEO's conceit led to the company's downfall.'
Academic
Common in literary criticism for the 'metaphysical conceit' or in psychology/sociology discussing arrogance.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used for strong criticism: 'His conceit is unbearable.'
Technical
In literary studies, refers to an extended, intricate metaphor (e.g., John Donne's compass conceit).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is so conceited she believes her own press.
- He became conceited after the promotion.
American English
- Don't get conceited just because you won once.
- She sounded incredibly conceited in that interview.
adverb
British English
- He spoke conceitedly about his achievements.
- She smiled conceitedly at her reflection.
American English
- He strutted conceitedly across the stage.
- She answered the question conceitedly.
adjective
British English
- That was a conceited remark.
- He has a conceited attitude.
American English
- She gave a conceited smile.
- His conceited behaviour alienated the team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His conceit made him unpopular.
- She is too full of conceit.
- The film's central conceit is that a robot learns to love.
- His intellectual conceit prevented him from listening to others.
- The metaphysical poets were known for their elaborate conceits, yoking disparate ideas together.
- The architect's conceit—a building shaped like a tear—was dismissed as impractical vanity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONCEIT sounds like 'CONCEAL' + 'I'. Think: he CONCEALS his 'I' (self) so little, it's all you see – excessive pride.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIDE IS BEING PUFFED UP / INFLATED (puffed up with conceit).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'концепт' (concept).
- It is not 'concept' or 'idea' in a neutral sense. The core meaning is closer to 'самомнение', 'высокомерие'. The literary term has no direct Russian equivalent but is often translated as 'кончетто' (from Italian) or explained as 'затейливая метафора'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean a simple 'idea' or 'concept'. (Wrong: 'The main conceit of my essay is...' unless it's a deliberately elaborate metaphor).
- Misspelling as 'concieve' or 'concete'.
- Using it as a positive trait.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'conceit' used in its LITERARY sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Concept' is a neutral, general idea. 'Conceit' is either excessive pride OR a specifically elaborate, fanciful, or witty idea/metaphor, often used in literary analysis.
In its core meaning (pride), it is always negative. In its literary meaning (an elaborate metaphor), it is a neutral descriptive term, though it can sometimes imply something overly clever or showy.
Yes, in everyday spoken English, the adjective 'conceited' is far more frequently used than the noun 'conceit'.
A type of conceit associated with 17th-century Metaphysical poets (like John Donne). It is an extended, complex metaphor that draws a surprising, often paradoxical, comparison between two very dissimilar things (e.g., lovers' souls to a compass).
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