ENGLISH
REFERENCE

braggadocious

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌbræɡəˈdoʊʃəs// UK //ˌbræɡəˈdəʊʃəs// Informal
Definition

adj. describing someone who talks too much about their own achievements or abilities in a way that is meant to impress others.

adj. characterised by boastful, arrogant, or self-aggrandising speech; prone to excessive self-promotion.


SIMPLE

He gave a braggadocious speech about his success.

CONTEXTUAL

The candidate's braggadocious tone during the debate alienated many voters who preferred a more humble approach.

COMPLEX

His braggadocious claims regarding the company's quarterly growth were quickly dismantled by the independent audit report.

Origin

Recorded in American English from the mid-1800s. It is formed from the older noun braggadocio (“empty or swaggering boasting”), which dates to the 1590s and was coined by the English poet Edmund Spenser as the name of a boastful character in The Faerie Queene.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated July 22, 2026