A person who thinks they are better than others because of their wealth, education, or social status.
First appeared in 18th century English slang, possibly from 's.nob' or an abbreviation. The origin is debated, but it may derive from shoemakers' slang or Latin 'sine nobilitate' (without nobility).
The word 'snob' originally described shoemakers and tradespeople in Oxford—exactly the opposite of what it means today! Language meanings flip sometimes, and this dramatic reversal shows how class prejudices shaped English.
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