Poseur

A poseur is an individual who adopts a behavior, style, or attitude primarily to impress others; they feign interest, knowledge, or sophistication that they don't genuinely possess. Often, their performance feels artificial and lacks authenticity, aiming for social validation rather than expressing genuine self. This superficial display can encompass a wide range of domains, from fashion and music preferences to intellectual pursuits and emotional expressions. The core characteristic of a poseur lies in their prioritization of external perception over internal experience, leading to a contrived and ultimately shallow persona. The motive may be to achieve a higher social standing, to be considered 'cool', or to fit in with a particular group, often driven by insecurity or a desire for admiration.

Poseur meaning with examples

• The art gallery was full of poseurs, pretending to understand the abstract sculptures while secretly just trying to look cultured. They would make vague comments about the 'meaning' of the work, but their eyes betrayed a complete lack of genuine appreciation. Their main concern appeared to be making each other envious. They looked and sounded fake.
• He was a fashion poseur, always sporting the latest trends but clearly uncomfortable in them. He couldn't articulate his reasoning behind his choices. He was trying to make himself look important. His efforts seemed like someone else's clothes had been put on him and he didn't feel comfortable at all.
• The music scene was riddled with poseurs, declaring themselves indie music fans but only knowing the most popular bands. Whenever obscure bands were mentioned, the poseurs would fake interest. It seemed like their real interest was what their friends thought of them, not the music itself.
• She was an emotional poseur, sharing her 'deepest feelings' on social media for validation. Her expressions of sadness felt theatrical and lacking in genuine empathy. She'd only share these thoughts in a public setting. Her friends all felt her performance was intended to be a spectacle rather than a display of feeling.