Standard Lemma guide

self-important

adj · 2 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.

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Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having, or behaving as if having, too high an opinion of one's own importance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonym: self-entitled
  • The assistant manager was a self-important fellow who strutted about the office barking instructions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: conceited, haughty, pompous, hoity-toity, self-entitled

Antonyms: self-deprecating

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an arrogant official
  • arrogant claims
  • chesty as a peacock

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: arrogant, chesty

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbh-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English important English self-important From self- + important.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: selvhøjtidelig — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Danish: indbildsk — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Danish: opblæst — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Finnish: itsetärkeä — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Finnish: tärkeilevä — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • French: présomptueux — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Galician: vaidoso — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • German: wichtigtuerisch — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: gusmhar — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: gustalach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: leitheadach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: mórluachach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: mórchúiseach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: postúil — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: toirtéiseach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Irish: tromchúiseach — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Italian: borioso — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Italian: montato — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Māori: whakaī — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: selvhøytidelig — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Polish: ważny — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Swedish: förmäten — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Swedish: inbilsk — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Swedish: uppblåst — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Swedish: viktig — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Tagalog: paimportante — having too high an opinion of one's own importance
  • Tagalog: papampam — having too high an opinion of one's own importance