Quick answer
Pomposity is self-important grandness. It can describe a person’s manner, a speech, a ceremony, or a writing style that takes itself too seriously.
Word page
Pomposity Meaning
Pomposity means the quality of being self-important, overly grand, or showily serious. Pomposity is seriousness with its chest puffed out. The word is useful when style, behavior, or language feels inflated by self-importance.
At a glance
Pompous and Grandiloquent WordsDramatic and Overblown WordsSpeech, Noise, and Verbal Nonsense
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: say pomposity with a clear stress pattern: pom-PAH-suh-tee.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, pomposity is the quality of acting, speaking, or writing as if you are more important than the situation deserves. It can show up in tone, vocabulary, gestures, titles, or ceremony.
Tone, context, and nuance
Pomposity focuses more on attitude than wording. Bombast describes inflated language; pomposity can describe the whole self-important performance.
Example sentences
- Simple: The announcement had a tone of pomposity.
- Everyday: He turned a simple thank-you into a display of pomposity.
- Writing: The satire punctures the pomposity of officials who love titles more than work.
- Nuance: Pomposity can describe behavior, not just language.
- Awkward: "She was confident, so it was pomposity." Better: "She sounded self-important, so it came across as pomposity."
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Leaving the pronunciation blank | A useful guide is pom-PAH-suh-tee. |
| Using it for confidence | Confidence is not pomposity unless it becomes self-important or showy. |
| Using it only for people | Speeches, ceremonies, and writing can also have pomposity. |
| Confusing pomp with pomposity | Pomp can be ceremonial display; pomposity is usually negative self-importance. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| bombast | Inflated language, especially speech or writing. |
| self-importance | Plain phrase for thinking too highly of oneself. |
| pretension | Trying to seem more impressive than one is. |
| grandiosity | Excessive grandeur in manner, plans, or self-image. |
| bloviation | Pompous, long-winded speech. |
Opposite words
humility, modesty, plainness, sincerity, understatement
Word family
Related forms include pompous, pompously, and pomp. Pompous is the adjective; pomposity is the noun.
Word origin
Pomposity comes from pompous and ultimately from roots connected with ceremony and display. The modern word usually criticizes excessive self-importance.
Writing tip
Use pomposity when attitude is the issue. If the problem is wordiness, choose verbiage; if it is inflated language, choose bombast.
Common questions
- What does pomposity mean in simple words? Pomposity means self-important, overly grand, or showily serious behavior or style.
- How do you pronounce pomposity? Pomposity is pronounced pom-PAH-suh-tee.
- Is pomposity negative? Yes. It usually criticizes self-importance or exaggerated seriousness.
- What is the difference between pomposity and bombast? Pomposity is self-important attitude or style; bombast is inflated language.
- What is another word for pomposity? Similar words include self-importance, pretension, grandiosity, bombast, and bloviation.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.