If you call someone a snob, you disapprove of them because they admire upper-class people and have a low opinion of lower-class people.
[disapproval]
Going to a private school had made her a snob.
Kenneth is an arrogant, rude, social snob.
2. countable noun
If you call someone a snob, you disapprove of them because they behave as if they are superior to other people because of their intelligence or taste.
[disapproval]
She was an intellectual snob.
...a first class food snob.
Synonyms: elitist, highbrow, social climber More Synonyms of snob
snob in British English
(snɒb)
noun
1.
a.
a person who strives to associate with those of higher social status and who behaves condescendingly to others
Compare inverted snob
b.
(as modifier)
snob appeal
2.
a person having similar pretensions with regard to his or her tastes, etc
an intellectual snob
Derived forms
snobbery (ˈsnobbery)
noun
snobbish (ˈsnobbish)
adjective
snobbishly (ˈsnobbishly)
adverb
snobbishness (ˈsnobbishness) or snobbism (ˈsnobbism)
noun
snobby (ˈsnobby)
adjective
snobbily (ˈsnobbily)
adverb
Word origin
C18 (in the sense: shoemaker; hence, C19: a person who flatters those of higher station,etc): of unknown origin
snob in American English
(snɑb)
noun
1.
a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others
2.
a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field
a musical snob
Word origin
[1775–85; orig. uncert; first used as a nickname for a cobbler or cobbler's apprentice,hence a townsman, someone of low class or lacking good breeding, commoner, hence someonewho imitates persons of higher rank]
Examples of 'snob' in a sentence
snob
We food snobs tend to be rather sniffy about her.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This is when the average food snob steps out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So are we becoming more discerning in our tastes or just turning into food snobs?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The world is full of intellectual snobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He is certainly no intellectual snob.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
CW has little time for intellectual snobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I've always been a food snob.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Food snobs will be surprised to learn that the average Frenchman eats 14 burgers a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Eat here, unless you're a total food snob.
The Sun (2015)
Many politicians and bankers appear to be arrogant, self-important snobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He allows us to understand that art snobs are insecure people: that the problem is theirs, not ours.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Food snobs are awful.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Most of all, I learnt how to stop being a food snob.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
snob
British English: snob /snɒb/ NOUN
A snob is someone who feels that they are better than other people because of their behaviour or social class.
Her parents did not like him because they were snobs.
American English: snob
Arabic: مُتَكَبِر
Brazilian Portuguese: esnobe
Chinese: 势利小人
Croatian: snob
Czech: snob
Danish: snob
Dutch: snob
European Spanish: esnob
Finnish: snobi
French: snob
German: Snob
Greek: σνομπ
Italian: snob
Japanese: 紳士気取りの俗物
Korean: 속물
Norwegian: snobb
Polish: snob
European Portuguese: snob
Romanian: snob
Russian: сноб
Latin American Spanish: esnob
Swedish: snobb
Thai: คนที่คิดว่าตนดีกว่าคนอื่น
Turkish: züppe
Ukrainian: сноб
Vietnamese: trưởng giả học làm sang
Chinese translation of 'snob'
snob
(snɔb) (pej)
n(c)
势(勢)利小人 (shìlì xiǎorén) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
a person who feels smugly superior with regard to his or her tastes or interests