Meaning & use

Ponce

noun·Advanced

Last updated

British informal term for a man regarded as ostentatious, affected, or effeminate; also used historically to mean a pimp.

See it in a sentence

His friends teased him for being a bit of a ponce about his expensive shoes.

The film's antagonist is portrayed as a small-time ponce running girls on the docks.

A note on using this word

As a verb, "to ponce around" means to behave in an ostentatious or wasteful manner; the word is common in British English but can be considered mildly derogatory.

Words with a similar meaning

fopdandy

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To behave in an ostentatious, showy, or time-wasting way.

Stop poncing around and help me carry these boxes.

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