prig
C2Literary, somewhat dated, slightly pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A person who behaves in a self-righteously moralistic way, often showing excessive concern for proper rules and behavior, and looking down on others they consider less proper.
Someone who is annoyingly smug about their perceived superiority in morality, knowledge, or social correctness, often rigidly adhering to conventional standards while being critical of others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun describing a personality type. While not extremely common in casual conversation, it remains a precise descriptor in literary and critical contexts. The term carries strong negative judgment about someone's attitude rather than their actual morality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, where it may have slightly stronger class connotations. In American English, it's more literary/archaic.
Connotations
In British English, may imply middle-class respectability and social climbing through rigid propriety. In American English, emphasizes moral smugness more than class.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but more likely encountered in British literature and period dramas.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He is a prigDon't be such a prigShe acted the prigVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Act the prig”
- “Priggish airs”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in discussions about rigid, rule-obsessed colleagues who hinder innovation.
Academic
Found in literary criticism and social commentary analyzing character types.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech. Might be used humorously or ironically.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He does love to prig on about proper table manners.
- Stop prigging and just enjoy the party.
American English
- She tends to prig when someone uses casual language in formal settings.
- He prigged about the dress code for twenty minutes.
adverb
British English
- He corrected my pronunciation quite priggishly.
- She smiled priggishly at our informal chatter.
American English
- He spoke priggishly about the decline of standards.
- She nodded priggishly during the lecture.
adjective
British English
- His prig remarks about our grammar were tiresome.
- She gave me a rather prig look when I arrived late.
American English
- That prig attitude won't win you any friends here.
- His comments were unnecessarily prig.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is such a prig about grammar.
- Don't be a prig - let people enjoy themselves!
- Her priggish insistence on formal etiquette made everyone uncomfortable.
- The character in the novel was portrayed as an insufferable prig who criticized everyone's manners.
- His priggish demeanor masked a deep insecurity about his own social standing.
- The Victorian era produced many literary prigs who served as vehicles for social satire.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRIG rhymes with 'rigid' - a prig is rigid about rules and morality.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY IS A STRAITJACKET (a prig wears morality tightly, constricting themselves and judging others who are more free)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'ханжа' (лицемер) - prig искренне верит в свою правильность
- Отличать от 'зануда' (bore) - prig specifically moralistic, not just boring
- Не равно 'педант' (pedant) - педант о деталях, prig о морали
Common Mistakes
- Using as a verb (not standard)
- Confusing with 'prude' (sexual morality only)
- Using for someone merely strict without moral superiority
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best describes a 'prig'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A hypocrite says one thing and does another. A prig genuinely believes in their superior morality and rigidly adheres to it while looking down on others.
While primarily a noun, informal use as a verb ('to prig about something') exists, meaning to behave in a priggish manner. However, it's non-standard and rare.
It's strongly pejorative but not vulgar. It expresses contempt for someone's attitude rather than attacking their character fundamentally.
A pedant is obsessively concerned with minor details and correctness (especially academic or technical). A prig is concerned with moral propriety and social rules, with an added dimension of smug superiority.
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