An arriviste is someone who has recently achieved success or entered a new position, often in an aggressive or uncertain manner. The term, borrowed from French, can carry a slightly negative connotation.
An arriviste is someone newly arrived and often aggressively pursuing success, potentially lacking certainty in their new position; the term comes from French and can have negative connotations.
| Word | arriviste |
|---|---|
| Date | May 23, 2008 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | a-rih-VEEST |
| Etymology | An "arriviste" is someone who is just beginning to "arrive," in the sense of achieving success or making a name for oneself. Often the word can have slightly negative connotations, indicating a person who is highly aggressive or perhaps unscrupulous in his or her climb to the top. Like its synonym "parvenu," "arriviste" can also indicate a lack of certainty or confidence in one's newfound position. "Arriviste" is something of a new arrival itself, relatively speaking. English speakers borrowed the term from French in the early 20th century. |
| Examples | The young entrepreneur was viewed as an arriviste in the business community, and many old-timers were leery of his ideas. |
| Definition | : one that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor) |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
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