prig

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈprig 

: thief

prig

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

archaic : fop

2

archaic : fellow, person

3

: one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties (as of speech or manners) in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree

priggery

ˈpri-gə-rē 

noun

priggish

ˈpri-gish 

adjective

priggishly adverb

priggishness noun

priggishness

3 of 3

noun (3)

prig·​gish·​ness

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being priggish

2

: a priggish act or piece of conduct

Examples of prig in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Compared to the spontaneous, high-spirited, and witty heroines of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, Fanny Price is a prig. — Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026

Noel Coward’s once-scandalous comedy of prigs amid the petit fours gets a deliciously tart revival at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre Company, crisply directed by former artistic director Tom Ross. — Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024

Even girls, against the advice of monks and prigs, were taught to read and write. — Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024

The 21st century has been a boon to young abstainers who reject the word alcoholic, and to anyone who wants to quit drinking without becoming a sad sack or a prig. — Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 19 Apr. 2022

In keeping with the prevailing public narrative, Charles is presented as a heartless prig, virtually a cartoon villain. — BostonGlobe.com, 1 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

prig to steal

Noun (2)

probably from prig entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prig

• big
• brig
• brigg
• dig
• fig
• gig
• jig
• mig
• pig
• rig
• sprig
• swig

Kids Definition

prig

noun

ˈprig

: a person who annoys others by being too careful about conforming to what is socially acceptable (as in speech and manners)

priggish

ˈprig-ish

adjective

priggishly adverb

priggishness noun