English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

hothead

Hothead (noun) means someone who loses their temper easily or is quick to pick a fight. Example: “The coach benched the hothead after his third shouting match with the referee.”

noun
1
Someone who loses their temper easily or is quick to pick a fight.
"The coach benched the hothead after his third shouting match with the referee."
"Don't let that hothead provoke you into an argument."
2
Someone who acts on impulse without stopping to think it through.
"A hothead like him will make a snap decision he later regrets."

How to use hothead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA person with a short fuse — quick to anger and quick to act rashly.

Common pairings
a real hothead act like a hothead

Word forms

hotheads plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “hothead” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The coach benched the _____ after his third shouting match with the referee.

Etymology

From hot + head, echoing the old idea of anger as a "hot heart" — the same image survives in Old English hātheort, "hot-hearted, furious."

Origin: Old English

lunatic daredevil madcap fire-eater swashbuckler harum-scarum

Related words

Rhymes for hothead

See all rhymes for hothead →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hothead” mean?

The word “hothead” means someone who loses their temper easily or is quick to pick a fight. In plain terms, a person with a short fuse — quick to anger and quick to act rashly.

How do you use “hothead” in a sentence?

Here is “hothead” used in a sentence: “The coach benched the hothead after his third shouting match with the referee.”

What part of speech is “hothead”?

“Hothead” is a noun.

Where does the word “hothead” come from?

The word “hothead” comes from Old English. From hot + head, echoing the old idea of anger as a "hot heart" — the same image survives in Old English hātheort, "hot-hearted, furious.".

How many meanings does “hothead” have?

“Hothead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who loses their temper easily or is quick to pick a fight.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial