Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Contemporary (2000–) ·2010
Humblebrag
humble brag
- Meaning
- An ostensibly humble statement intended as boasting.
- Source words
- humble + brag
- Coined by
- Harris Wittels
- Year
- 2010
Background
Wittels, a *Parks and Recreation* writer, began tweeting examples in 2010 and published *Humblebrag* (2012). His 2015 death from a drug overdose at 30 made the book's breezy tone retrospectively poignant; the word has outlasted him.
Contemporary (2000–)
Faster coinage, faster canonisation. Brexit and podcast both reached the OED within a decade of first use — historically rapid. Social media has made visibility, not invention, the rate-limiting step.
Two words, one coinage.
Browse every portmanteau on the shelf — or cross over to the loanwords atlas.