highbrow
1 antonym for highbrow — opposites grouped by meaning.
Adj — Appealing to sophisticated or intellectual tastes.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Appealing to sophisticated or intellectual tastes.
“The festival mixed highbrow art films with mainstream comedies.”
highbrowed
Opposites
2. noun
A person with refined, intellectual tastes.
“Critics dismissed the play as entertainment for highbrows.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use highbrow
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
highbrow culture
highbrow taste
too highbrow
Etymology
Coined in the 1870s from high + brow, drawing on the now-discredited pseudoscience of phrenology, which claimed that a taller forehead signalled greater intelligence.
Full origin of highbrow →Frequently asked questions
What does “highbrow” mean?
The word “highbrow” means appealing to sophisticated or intellectual tastes. In plain terms, sophisticated, intellectual, or "arty" — often used slightly mockingly, contrasted with "lowbrow.".
How do you use “highbrow” in a sentence?
Here is “highbrow” used in a sentence: “The festival mixed highbrow art films with mainstream comedies.”
What part of speech is “highbrow”?
Depending on how it is used, “highbrow” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “highbrow” come from?
The word “highbrow” dates back to around 1870. Coined in the 1870s from high + brow, drawing on the now-discredited pseudoscience of phrenology, which claimed that a taller forehead signalled greater intelligence.
How many meanings does “highbrow” have?
“Highbrow” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: appealing to sophisticated or intellectual tastes.
