Word
pompous
US/ˈpɑmpəs/
UK/pˈɒmpəs/
Definition
adj. behaving in a way that shows you think you are much more important or serious than you really are. It describes someone who uses long words or a grand style to impress others.
adj. characterised by an exaggerated display of self-importance, dignity, or seriousness. Often describes speech or behaviour that is overly formal or grand in an attempt to appear superior.
Examples
“He gave a pompous speech about his own success.”
“The professor's pompous attitude made it difficult for students to ask simple questions without feeling judged.”
“The critic dismissed the novel as a pompous attempt at high literature, noting that its dense prose served only to mask a lack of original thought.”
Examples
simple
“He gave a pompous speech about his own success.”
contextual
“The professor's pompous attitude made it difficult for students to ask simple questions without feeling judged.”
complex
“The critic dismissed the novel as a pompous attempt at high literature, noting that its dense prose served only to mask a lack of original thought.”
Usage
Typically used to describe people, their speech, or their writing style; often follows linking verbs like 'sound' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“His pompous, random rules were widely – and deservedly – lampooned.” “Writers who overload their sentences with nominalizations tend to sound pompous and abstract.” Etymology
From Middle English pompous, from Old French pompeux, pompos, from Late Latin pomposus, from Latin pompa (“pomp”), from Ancient Greek πομπή (pompḗ, “a sending, a solemn procession, pomp”), from πέμπω (pémpō, “I send”), equivalent to pomp + -ous. Doublet of pomposo.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/pompous