Manque: meaning, definitions and examples

cultural term

Manque refers to someone who has failed to achieve their potential or to realize their aspirations. It can denote a person who has fallen short of their intended goals in life or their creative endeavors. The term is often used in artistic and literary contexts to describe individuals whose talents and ambitions remain unfulfilled. It carries a sense of loss or wasted potential, hinting at a tragedy in the unachieved dreams of the individual.

failure, underachiever, unfulfilled

Examples of usage

• The painter was seen as a manque after never displaying his works.

• Despite his talents, he remained a literary manque.

• She felt like a manque in her career as an architect.