Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

donnish

adjective don·nish \ ˈdä-nish \

Definition of donnish

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a university don
—

donnishly

adverb
—

donnishness

noun

See donnish defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of donnish

1848

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

DONNISH Defined for English Language Learners

donnish

adjective

Definition of donnish for English Language Learners

  • : like a typical don (sense 1)

Learn More about donnish

  1. See words that rhyme with donnish

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up donnish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

donnish

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games