Standoffish

Full definition of standoffish

Adjective

1. Aloof; reserved; unsociable and unfriendly.
• 1899, Joseph Conrad, ,He was stand–offish with the other agents, and they on their side said he was the manager’s spy upon them.
• 1922, James_Joyce, Ulysses, episode 16,His initial impression was that he was a bit standoffish or not over effusive.
• 1928, D._H._Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover, ch. 7,They were always a haughty family, standoffish in a way, as they've a right to be.

Synonyms

• cold
• distant

Related terms

• standoffishness