arrogance
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- nonarrogance noun
- nonarrogancy noun
- superarrogance noun
Etymology
Origin of arrogance
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin arrogantia “presumption”; see arrogant, -ance
Explanation
Arrogance is overbearing pride or haughtiness. If your friends are constantly complaining about your arrogance, you might want to lose the haughty attitude and try to be more humble. Arrogance comes from the Latin arrogans which means overbearing. If you show arrogance, your pride is overbearing and offensive to others. Arrogance can also be attributed to corporations who fail to take consumer opinion into account and to nations that seem to do whatever they want with no regard for other countries.
Vocabulary lists containing arrogance
The Westing Game
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Military-Industrial Complex" (1961)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Thirteen Reasons Why
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Bereaved and harmed mothers have blamed missed chances, "arrogance" among some senior doctors and a "defensive culture".
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
On the issue of whether Germany should also address human rights concerns in the region, Lenz said that any overt displays of "moral arrogance" would be "rather counterproductive".
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
He singled out the U.S. as a leading threat, writing essays that criticized what he described as American arrogance and the corrosive influence of American consumerism—views that prompted peers to call him a “culture warrior.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026
Some of the arrogance is gone from his voice, replaced with a horrible softness.
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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
