hauteur

Hauteur is a noun that refers to a haughty, disdainful manner or bearing. It denotes a self-conscious air of superiority and a disposition to treat others with contempt or distance. The word derives from the French hauteur, meaning height or high status, which underlines the sense of social elevation implicit in the term. In English usage, hauteur has long carried a refined or theatrical nuance, rather than simple arrogance.

Hauteur differs from broader terms like arrogance or pride in that it foregrounds posture and social display. It implies not only feeling superior, but acting as if one is above others, often with coldness or reserve. The expression to display hauteur or to carry oneself with hauteur is common in critical writing about manners, salons, or class-tinged behavior.

Hauteur appears frequently in literature, criticism, and social commentary as a vector of social critique, signaling pretension, exclusivity, or snobbery. It pairs with words such as aloofness, condescension, and snobbery. While confidence can be positive, hauteur carries a negative evaluative charge because it signals contempt for perceived inferiors and a prioritization of social standing over human warmth.