Dictionary Definition: Prat
Prat
Noun
Pronunciation: /præt/
Plural: prats
Register: British informal, colloquial, mildly derogatory
A prat is a stupid, foolish, incompetent, or ridiculous person. In British English, it is usually an insult, but often milder and more comic than harsher abuse. Merriam-Webster defines prat as “a stupid or foolish person,” while Cambridge describes it as someone who behaves stupidly or has little ability.
Example Sentences
“He made a complete prat of himself at the meeting.”
“Don’t be such a prat.”
“That prat parked across two spaces again.”
“I looked a right prat trying to carry six coffees through a revolving door.”
Related Phrase: Pratting Around
Pratting around or prat about means wasting time, messing around, or behaving foolishly when you should be doing something useful. Cambridge defines it as behaving stupidly, especially when responsibility is expected.
Example:
“Stop pratting around and help me.”
Tone and Usage
Prat is rude, but usually not severe. It sits near words like:
twit
muppet
plonker
numpty
pillock
fool
idiot
A prat is often someone who is not just wrong, but wrong with confidence, the human version of a satnav driving into a canal while saying, “Continue straight.” 🫖