swagger

American

[swag-er] / ˈswæg ər /

verb (used without object)

to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air.
to boast or brag noisily.

verb (used with object)

to bring, drive, force, etc., by blustering.

noun

swaggering manner, conduct, or walk; ostentatious display of arrogance and conceit.

swagger ¹ British

/ ˈswæɡə /

verb

(intr) to walk or behave in an arrogant manner
to brag loudly
rare (tr) to force, influence, etc, by blustering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

arrogant gait, conduct, or manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

informal elegantly fashionable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

swagger ² British

/ ˈswæɡə, ˈswæɡɪ /

noun

other names for swagman

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See strut ¹.

Other Word Forms

outswagger verb (used with object)
swaggerer noun
swaggering adjective
swaggeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of swagger

First recorded in 1580–90; swag ¹ + -er ⁶

Explanation

Picture the confident, maybe even arrogant way a pirate, a cowboy, or even a rapper might stroll around. That style of walking is called a swagger. Swagger can also be used as a verb. After you ace a test you might swagger down the hall feeling pretty full of yourself. In verb form it can also refer to more aggressive behavior like bullying or intimidating others. Hopefully you wouldn’t swagger down the hall doing that though!

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Far-right media personalities are adept at commanding attention with showmanship and swagger.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026

American Girls possesses a cheeky swagger that'll sound immense at his record-breaking Wembley Stadium residency this summer.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

"We put this stuff on because it makes us feel good personally, and just gives us that little swagger, just to go about our day like that."

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Bell Biv DeVoe brought a swagger that only they can, blending R&B and hip-hop in a way that still has fans screaming “Poison” lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

For a moment, his insouciant swagger fails him.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023