bounder

A "bounder" isn't someone who bounces. It is an old-fashioned term for a person who has poor manners, too much social ambition, and a habit of overstepping proper boundaries. Think of someone trying to climb the social ladder at the expense of others. Such a person can be boastful, pushy, and disrespectful, often looking more refined than they are. The word often appears in British society stories, where it was used as a sharp label for those with bad breeding; a familiar example is P.G. Wodehouse, where these figures are often social nuisances you definitely do not want to invite for tea.

The word "bounder" carries a distinctly British flavor and usually points to a specific social type. It describes a person who affects gentility while behaving in an ungentlemanly way. It is not only a matter of ambition; it is about the manner in which that ambition is pursued. A bounder is often pushy, presumptuous, and indifferent to courtesy.

The usage was especially common in late-19th and early-20th-century British upper-class writing, where it often described men trying to marry into wealth or status with no regard for character. In those works, these figures are usually opportunistic, deceitful, and eager to appear better than they are.

While less common today, "bounder" still carries a strong sense of social climbing, rudeness, and poor etiquette. It suggests someone trying to be what they are not, often through entitlement and self-interest. You might use it for a pushy opportunist, a boastful social climber, or any person who tries to look superior while showing little true regard for kindness and fairness.