adj
uppity
UH-puh-tee
adj
1
Arrogant or self-important, acting as if one is better or more important than one's actual position warrants.
"He got a bit uppity after his promotion."
How to Use Uppity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing snobbish or above your station.
Common mistake
The word has a dated, sometimes loaded history and can sound dismissive or judgmental — use with care.
Common pairings
get uppity
uppity attitude
Word Forms
uppitier comparative, uppitiest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “uppity”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got a bit _____ after his promotion.
Etymology
From an earlier form uppedy, built from up + -ed + -y; first recorded around 1880 in Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus stories.