humblebrag: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, colloquial, internet slang
Quick answer
What does “humblebrag” mean?
A statement that is meant to sound modest but is actually intended to draw attention to one's success or good qualities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A statement that is meant to sound modest but is actually intended to draw attention to one's success or good qualities.
A self-deprecating or modest remark used as a subtle or indirect way to boast about one's achievements, lifestyle, or positive attributes; a form of social communication that combines a complaint or expression of humility with an underlying brag.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used and understood in both varieties, originating from US internet culture. There is no significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Universally negative or mocking; describes a perceived lack of social grace or self-awareness.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its origin, but common in UK media and online discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “humblebrag” in a Sentence
to humblebrag about somethingto be accused of humblebraggingThat's quite a humblebrag.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “humblebrag” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He always manages to humblebrag about his children's exam results.
- Stop humblebragging about your promotion and just celebrate it!
American English
- She totally humblebragged about meeting the President.
- I don't mean to humblebrag, but my startup just got another round of funding.
adverb
British English
- He said, quite humblebraggingly, that he was tired from all his charity work.
- She humblebraggedly mentioned her article in The Economist.
adjective
British English
- That was a very humblebrag statement about your holiday villa.
- His humblebrag Instagram post about 'struggling' with fame went viral.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in formal business writing; may be used informally to critique a colleague's or executive's presentation style ('His anecdote about working too hard on the merger was a classic humblebrag').
Academic
Used in sociolinguistics, media studies, or psychology papers analyzing self-presentation and social media communication.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation and online commentary to critique someone's perceived insincere modesty, especially on social media.
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “humblebrag”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “humblebrag”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “humblebrag”
- Using it as a positive term (it is always critical).
- Confusing it with genuine self-deprecation or modesty.
- Spelling as two words ('humble brag') – while sometimes seen, the closed compound 'humblebrag' is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is included in major dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster, coined in the early 21st century and popularized by social media.
Typically, the term implies a degree of calculated self-presentation. However, a speaker might be unaware of how their statement is perceived, in which case an observer might still label it a humblebrag based on its effect.
Genuine modesty downplays one's achievements without an ulterior motive to highlight them. A humblebrag uses the guise of modesty (a complaint, a self-criticism) specifically to draw attention to a positive attribute or success.
Primarily, yes. But it is frequently used as a verb (to humblebrag) and can be adapted into adjectives (humblebraggy) and adverbs (humblebraggingly), especially in informal contexts.
A statement that is meant to sound modest but is actually intended to draw attention to one's success or good qualities.
Humblebrag is usually informal, colloquial, internet slang in register.
Humblebrag: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌmbl̩braɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhəmbəlˌbræɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be a master of the humblebrag.”
- “To humblebrag one's way through a conversation.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone saying 'Ugh, it's so annoying having to tidy my massive new house' – they pretend to be HUMBLE about a chore, but they're really BRAGGING about the house.
Conceptual Metaphor
BOASTING IS A DISGUISE (The boast is hidden beneath a cloak of humility).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following statements best exemplifies a 'humblebrag'?