parvenus

Noun

parvenu (plural parvenus)

1. A person who has risen, climbed up, or has been promoted to a higher social class, especially through acquisition of wealth, privileges, or political authority but has not gained social acceptance by those within that new class.
   • But the favourite's power and influence provoke intense ill-feeling among other courtiers, who regard him as a sinister, usurping parvenu with ideas above his station, or perhaps even a sorcerer.2001 January 31, Francis Wheen, “The whole truth about Peter's friends”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms:

   arriviste

See all 2 meanings of parvenu