# arrogance

/ˈɛɹəɡəns/ (US) · /ˈæɹəɡəns/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arrogance
Updated: 2026-05-04

## Definition

the quality of being too proud and thinking you are much better or more important than other people. You use this to describe someone who does not show respect to others.

For teachers: an offensive display of self-importance or superiority; an overbearing pride that manifests as a lack of respect for others.

## Examples

- His arrogance makes it very difficult to work with him.
- The manager's arrogance led him to ignore the warnings of his staff, which eventually caused the project to fail.
- While confidence is often seen as a professional asset, it can quickly sour into arrogance if one loses the ability to listen to dissenting opinions or acknowledge personal limitations.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable in its abstract sense; frequently used as the subject or object of a sentence to describe a personality trait.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.