prig

¹

[ prig ]

noun

1. a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner.

   Synonyms: bluenose, puritan, prude

prig

²

[ prig ]

verb (used with object)

, prigged, prig·ging.

1. Chiefly British. to steal.

verb (used without object)

, prigged, prig·ging.

1. Scot. and North England. to haggle or argue over price.
2. British Informal. to beg or entreat; ask a favor.

noun

1. Chiefly British. a thief.

prig

¹

/ prɪɡ /

verb

1. another word for steal

noun

1. another word for thief

prig

²

/ prɪɡ /

noun

1. a person who is smugly self-righteous and narrow-minded

Derived Forms

• ˈpriggish, adjective
• ˈpriggishly, adverb
• ˈpriggery, noun
• ˈpriggism, noun

Other Words From

• prig·gish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prig¹

First recorded in 1560–70; formerly, “coxcomb”; perhaps akin to prink

Origin of prig²

First recorded in 1505–15; originally thieves' cant; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of prig¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of prig²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

What if I sounded like a moralizing, self-righteous prig?

From Salon

The Professor, Sonia’s father, is a selfish and pompous prig who hates Vanya as much as Vanya hates him.

From Los Angeles Times

Are you as warmhearted as you say you are, or are you just a crusty old prig who wants to watch old empires while eating your chips and seven-bean dip?

From Washington Post

Never a favorite of the political left — in San Francisco she was considered a conservative and, worse, mocked as a prig — Feinstein routinely infuriated fellow Democrats by reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans.

From Los Angeles Times

“Come on in, you prig,” calls Richard.

From Literature

Related Words

• goody two-shoes
• goody-goody