high·brow·ism
ˈhīˌbrau̇ˌizəm 
plural -s
: the state of mind associated with a highbrow : self-conscious intellectual superiority : intellectualism
Examples of highbrow in a Sentence
Noun (1)
guests at her elegant dinner parties are a mix of the city's highbrows and captains of industry
Recent Examples on the Web
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Wagner would be a sleepless highbrow’s favorite; the long, lush, unbroken lines of music share with the white-noise hum of the air-conditioner or the thrum of the painstaking lecture the quality of being absorbing without offering undue eventfulness.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Richie Grainge herself has evolved her stylistic approach from an ostentatious Los Angeleno verve into a look that’s more low-key highbrow.
—Nick Remsen, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
The roll call of films ranges from the highbrow to the decidedly grungy, the menu of a true movie fanatic.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Deadline asks the Festival chief whether Series Mania is focused on the highbrow of the drama spectrum.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Wagner would be a sleepless highbrow’s favorite; the long, lush, unbroken lines of music share with the white-noise hum of the air-conditioner or the thrum of the painstaking lecture the quality of being absorbing without offering undue eventfulness.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Richie Grainge herself has evolved her stylistic approach from an ostentatious Los Angeleno verve into a look that’s more low-key highbrow.
—Nick Remsen, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
The roll call of films ranges from the highbrow to the decidedly grungy, the menu of a true movie fanatic.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for highbrow
Cite this Entry
“Highbrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highbrow. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
highbrow
noun
high·brow
-ˌbrau̇
: a person who has or pretends to have more learning or culture than others : intellectual
highbrow
adjective
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