Standard Lemma guide

Pooterism

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Taking oneself grotesquely seriously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • The Daily Telegraph In his letter, Morgan obligingly, but probably unwittingly, demonstrated a wonderfully neat example of "Pooterism".
  • NY Times [P]rivacy would be a prime value in the world of Pooterism and the semi-detached villa on a suburban line.
  • The Daily Telegraph Yes, the element of Pooterism is fantastically strong, taking yourself grotesquely seriously.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Pooter + -ism, from the character in Diary of a Nobody.