snigger

A snigger is not a big, open laugh. It is smaller, quieter, and usually partly held back. Imagine someone hearing a silly, rude, or slightly mean joke and trying not to laugh, but a little sound still slips out. That is a snigger. It often suggests secret amusement, and it can carry a hint of mockery, bad manners, or childish humor. You might hear a snigger from a bully watching a classmate trip, or from friends reacting to an embarrassing mistake or a joke they know they should not laugh at. Because it is often suppressed, a snigger can feel sneaky or disrespectful, even when it is not openly cruel.

To snigger is to laugh in a suppressed, half-hidden way, often in a manner that seems rude, childish, or mocking. Unlike a full, open laugh that shows clear enjoyment, a snigger is quieter and more restrained, as if the person is trying not to be heard. It often appears in moments when open laughter would seem impolite, embarrassing, or inappropriate.

The word is close in meaning to the American "snicker," and in many contexts they can be treated as regional variants of the same idea. A snigger may come from mockery, but it can also come from schoolboy humor, private amusement, or embarrassment. People snigger at rude jokes, awkward moments, double meanings, social mistakes, or anything they think they should not laugh at in public. The sound is often brief and partly nasal, and it is commonly paired with a face that is trying, and failing, to stay serious.

Very often, the word has a negative tone because it suggests laughter that is not generous or respectful. For example: "The boys let out a collective snigger when the new student mispronounced a word," or "A few colleagues sniggered during the presenter's technical mishap." In other cases, the tone is lighter but still a little improper, as when people snigger at a silly body joke or an accidental double meaning. If you hear a snigger directed at someone, it usually suggests hidden amusement rather than warm, friendly laughter.