noun
pinhead
PIHN-hehd
Pinhead (noun) means the small, rounded head of a pin, often used to describe something tiny. Example: “The rash left marks no bigger than a pinhead.”
noun
1
The small, rounded head of a pin, often used to describe something tiny.
"The rash left marks no bigger than a pinhead."
2
An insulting term for a foolish or stupid person.
"Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read "Pinhead," kept asking them all what they were sniggering at."
— J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
"Stop acting like a pinhead and read the instructions."
"My daddy repairs cars driven by women who are pinheads."
— Kindergarten Cop (1990)
How to use pinhead
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the tiny round tip of a pin, or, as an insult, someone acting foolishly.
When to use it
The "stupid person" sense is informal and mildly rude — best used casually, not in professional writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- pinheads
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rash left marks no bigger than a _____.
Etymology
From pin + head, originally describing the literal small round tip of a pin.
Related words
Rhymes for pinhead
See all rhymes for pinhead →Frequently asked questions
What does “pinhead” mean?
The word “pinhead” means the small, rounded head of a pin, often used to describe something tiny. In plain terms, either the tiny round tip of a pin, or, as an insult, someone acting foolishly.
How do you pronounce “pinhead”?
“Pinhead” is pronounced PIHN-hehd (/ˈpɪn.hɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “pinhead” in a sentence?
Here is “pinhead” used in a sentence: “The rash left marks no bigger than a pinhead.”
What part of speech is “pinhead”?
“Pinhead” is a noun.
How many meanings does “pinhead” have?
“Pinhead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the small, rounded head of a pin, often used to describe something tiny.
