Cockalorum
noun /ˌkɒkəˈlɔːrəm/ — A self-important little person with an inflated sense of their own consequence.
Definition
A boastful, self-aggrandising individual whose swagger significantly exceeds their stature — the person who enters every room as though they've been announced.
Beyond the definition
Every era produces cockalorums. They are rarely aware of what they are, which is rather the point. The word has a sound that perfectly enacts its meaning: pompous, elaborate, slightly absurd.
Origin & history
Late 18th century English, possibly from Dutch 'kockeloeren' (to crow like a cock). The suffix '-um' lends it a comically Latinate dignity — which is precisely cockalorum.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The office cockalorum arrived fifteen minutes late to his own meeting and apologised to no one.
She'd grown up with a cockalorum for an older brother — all bravado and very little behind it.
History is full of cockalorums briefly convinced of their own historical importance.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Cockalorum” when the meaning fits your context: A boastful, self-aggrandising individual whose swagger significantly exceeds their stature — the person who enters every room as though they've been announced.
Synonyms
braggart, blowhard, pompous fool, swaggerer, popinjay
Antonyms
modesty, humility
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Boastful Standing Power
Two adults stand in a room; one stands tall and points, while the other looks down, excluded from the process.
The tall, pointing figure represents the cockalorum. Their swagger, expressed through standing tall and directing others while their counterpart is excluded, significantly exceeds their stature in the room, creating an impression as if they were the only person in the room announced.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Cockalorum" mean?
Cockalorum is noun meaning: A self-important little person with an inflated sense of their own consequence.. A boastful, self-aggrandising individual whose swagger significantly exceeds their stature — the person who enters every room as though they've been announced.
Where does the word "Cockalorum" come from?
Late 18th century English, possibly from Dutch 'kockeloeren' (to crow like a cock). The suffix '-um' lends it a comically Latinate dignity — which is precisely cockalorum.