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Definition of snigger

snigger

/ˈsnɪɡ.ər/
snig · ger
Adverb:sniggeringly
•
Plural:sniggers
•
Past Simple:sniggered
•
Past Participle:sniggered
•
Present Participle:sniggering
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snigger Lexical Profile

snigger Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

British To laugh in a half-suppressed, furtive, or disrespectful manner.

Example

"The children began to snigger behind their hands during the solemn ceremony."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

British A smothered, half-suppressed, and often disrespectful or derisive laugh.

Example

"A quiet snigger came from the back row when the speaker mispronounced the name."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for snigger

Word Nuance & Usage

"Snigger" is the standard spelling in British and Commonwealth English, whereas "snicker" is widely preferred in American English to avoid accidental phonetic association with a severe racial slur.

• Rhymes for snigger

• Nearby Words

sniffly
sniffy
snig
snigger
snip
snipe
snipe eel

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 18th century as an alteration of the earlier verb "snicker," which is of imitative origin representing a half-suppressed laugh or the whinnying of a horse.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Snigger. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/snigger
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