snob

noun

ˈsnäb 

1

British : cobbler

2

: one who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those regarded as social superiors

3

a

: one who tends to rebuff, avoid, or ignore those regarded as inferior

b

: one who has an offensive air of superiority in matters of knowledge or taste

Synonyms

• snot
• elitist

Examples of snob in a Sentence

Most of the people in the club are snobs who look down on people who attended public schools.

Don't be such a snob.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a solid, mega-meaty take at the mini-chain Schnipper’s; a terrific vegan version that used to be on the menu at Superiority Burger could have converted even the most skeptical snob or carnivore. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025

There’s no nice way to say it—I’m a biscuit snob. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025

For a California beer snob, there were revelations galore. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

Call it obsession or devotion, but Rhino Market & Deli turned a homesick sandwich snob into a loyal local. —Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing snob

• anti-snob
• snob appeal
• snob value

Rhymes for snob

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob
• lob
• mob

Kids Definition

snob

noun

ˈsnäb 

1

: one who imitates, admires, or seeks association with those of higher social position

2

: one who looks down upon those felt to be less important

Etymology

from obsolete snob "a member of the lower classes," from a dialect word snob "cobbler, shoemaker"

Word Origin

Snob is an old word in English for "a cobbler, a person who makes or repairs shoes." Cobblers came to be thought of as representative of all of the working-class or lower-class people. In time the name snob came to be applied to the lower classes as distinguished from the nobility, the landowners, and the rich merchants. From its being used for any member of the lower class, snob soon came to mean "a person who pretends to be a member of a higher class, one who imitates the clothing, speech, and manners of the nobility." Nowadays the word means "anyone who acts as if he or she were better than others."