snicker

UK: /ˈsnɪkə/ US: /ˈsnɪkɚ/ ,(snik′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

snick•er /ˈsnɪkɚ/  also snigger /ˈsnɪgɚ/   v. [no object]

1. to laugh quietly but disrespectfully:
   The children snickered when the teacher turned his back.
   [~ + at + object]
   They snickered at his attempt to roller-skate.

n. [countable]

2. a snickering laugh.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

snick•er  (snik′ər), v.i. 

1. to laugh in a half-suppressed, indecorous or disrespectful manner.

v.t. 

2. to utter with a snicker.

n. 

3. a snickering laugh.

Also, snigger. 

• of expressive origin, originally 1685–95

snick′er•ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

snicker / ˈsnɪkə/ noun

1. a sly or disrespectful laugh, esp one partly stifled

verb

1. to utter such a laugh
   Equivalent term (in Britain and certain other countries): snigger
2. (of a horse) to whinny

Etymology: 17th Century: probably of imitative origin