highbrow
|high-brow|
/ˈhaɪbraʊ/
intellectual / elite taste
Etymology
'highbrow' originates from English, formed in the early 20th century from the words 'high' + 'brow', where 'brow' originally meant 'forehead' and was used figuratively to suggest intelligence or social standing.
'highbrow' evolved from earlier usages such as 'high-browed' and U.S. slang from the 1900s–1910s; the compound crystallized into the single word 'highbrow' in modern English.
Initially the phrase referred literally to having a high forehead; over time it took on a figurative meaning of being intellectual or cultured, and later gained the additional nuance of being elitist or snobbish.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who has or affects superior intellectual or cultural tastes; an intellectual (often with a sense of elitism or snobbery).
Many people considered him a highbrow because he preferred opera to pop music.
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Noun 2
the intellectual or elite side of culture or tastes (used to describe cultural products or scenes).
The city's highbrow scene centers on the university and its galleries.
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Adjective 1
relating to or appealing to people with high intellectual tastes; scholarly or cultured (sometimes implying pretension).
She enjoys highbrow films and literary fiction.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 01:57