Nabobery
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The behaviour of a nabob (generally disparaging). uncountable, usually
"2001, Archie Baron, An Indian Affair, London: Channel 4 Books, Chapter 7, p. 169, Respecting Indian ways and mastering Indian politics, intrigues and all, may have been the key to his success and the Company’s survival in the subcontinent. But to many in Britain this reeked of Oriental despotism and ‘un-British’ nabobery."
- 2 A building frequented by nabobs or characteristic of a nabob. uncountable, usually
"Our hero’s regiment was shortly afterwards ordered to India, where he escaped all the horrors of that pestilential clime, and may, for what we know to the contrary, be seen daily, about three o’clock, enjoying a tiffin at the great nabobery in Hanover Square [i.e. the Oriental Club in London]."
- 3 Very wealthy people collectively (generally disparaging). uncountable, usually
"[…] old Jack though deserted by princes, though censured by an ungrateful world, and persecuted from age to age by Critic and Commentator, and though never rich enough to hire one literary prostitute, shall find a Voluntary defender; and that too at a time when the whole body of the Nabobry demands and requires defence;"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"2001, Archie Baron, An Indian Affair, London: Channel 4 Books, Chapter 7, p. 169, Respecting Indian ways and mastering Indian politics, intrigues and all, may have been the key to his success and the Company’s survival in the subcontinent. But to many in Britain this reeked of Oriental despotism and ‘un-British’ nabobery."
Etymology
From nabob + -ery.
More for "nabobery"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.