poseur

noun

po·​seur pō-ˈzər How to pronounce poseur (audio)
ˈpō-zər
Synonyms of poseurnext
: a person who pretends to be what they are not : an affected or insincere person

Examples of poseur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The acclaimed writer Rachel Cusk’s controversial new novel Life of M is an intimate, unvarnished character study of an A-list movie star who is depicted as hollow, immature and cynical, an intellectual poseur and an artist wannabe. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 Gloria is a user, a poseur extraordinaire; her fluttery flamboyance, rooted in insecurity, summons another Gloria, the one from Sunset Blvd. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 In place of San Francisco’s decaying arts bohemia of poseurs and charlatans, they can be said to be creating an alternate bohemia. — Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Citing casual cultural interests risked being exposed as a poseur. — Dan Greene, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poseur

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, poser, from poser

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poseur was in 1869

Rhymes for poseur

See All Rhymes for poseur

Browse Nearby Words

poser
poseur
poseuse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poseur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poseur. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

poseur

noun
po·​seur pō-ˈzər How to pronounce poseur (audio)
: a person who pretends to be what he or she is not

More from Merriam-Webster on poseur

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for poseur

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