PARVENU

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does parvenu mean? 

• PARVENU (noun)
  The noun PARVENU has 1 sense:

1. a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

  Familiarity information: PARVENU used as a noun is very rare.

• PARVENU (adjective)
  The adjective PARVENU has 2 senses:

1. characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position

2. of or characteristic of a parvenu

  Familiarity information: PARVENU used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARVENU (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

arriviste; nouveau-riche; parvenu; upstart

Hypernyms ("parvenu" is a kind of...):

disagreeable person; unpleasant person (a person who is not pleasant or agreeable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "parvenu"):

climber; social climber (someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior)

junior (term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male)

Derivation:

parvenu (characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position)

• PARVENU (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position

Synonyms:

nouveau-riche; parvenu; parvenue; upstart

Similar:

pretentious (making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction)

Derivation:

parvenu (a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or characteristic of a parvenu

Synonyms:

parvenu; parvenue

Similar:

new (not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered)