perbenista

self-righteous person, prude

noun per-beh-NEE-stah Rare

Usage Note

Perbenista derives from per bene (respectable, decent) and denotes someone who ostentatiously performs respectability or moral rectitude — a hypocritical do-gooder. As an -ista noun it is the same form for masculine and feminine; distinguish by the article: il/la perbenista. The plural is i/le perbenisti/e.

Examples

"Non fare il perbenista davanti a tutti."

Natural Translation

Don't play the self-righteous one in front of everyone.

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