highbrow
1 synonym and 1 antonym for highbrow, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Appealing to sophisticated or intellectual tastes.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
highbrowed
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
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.
