poser

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A poseur (one who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others); a fake fan.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

"My boyfriend, or I should say, ex-boyfriend, used to be all dark and brooding with long, black hair, but now?!" [...] "Um, I'm pretty sure uniforms don't work that way. I think your ex might just be a big poser." "A fact I would be blissfully unaware of if not for these damn uniforms!"

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “poser” mean?

A poseur (one who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others); a fake fan.

Is “poser” formal or informal?

poser is generally derogatory, slang.