Meaning & use
infra dig
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Below the level of dignity expected of someone; not proper for a person of a certain status.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, seem, or look: It seems infra dig.
Patterns
- be infra dig
- seem infra dig
- consider something infra dig
For a professor to argue with a student in public is considered infra dig.
She thought it would be infra dig to accept a lift from a junior colleague.
Common combinations
- be infra dig
- In some circles, doing your own shopping is thought to be infra dig.
- seem infra dig
- It might seem infra dig for a manager to join the staff party.
- consider something infra dig
- Many old families consider working in trade infra dig.
Synonyms and how they differ
- undignified
- This is a more general and modern word; it means lacking dignity, while 'infra dig' specifically suggests a failure to meet a social standard.
- beneath one
- 'Beneath one' is a common phrase with a similar meaning but is not as old-fashioned or as socially specific as 'infra dig'.
Opposites
Commonly confused: infra dig or infra dig?
infra dig vs infra dig
Not to be confused with 'infrared' or 'infrastructure'; 'infra dig' is a set phrase from Latin meaning 'below dignity'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'infra dig' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Infra dig' is an adjective used after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem', so 'thought it was infra dig' is correct. The other options use it as a verb, noun, or adverb, which is not grammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “infra dig”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.