deadhead

1 of 2

noun

dead·​head ˈded-ˌhed 

1

: one who has not paid for a ticket

2

: a dull or stupid person

3

: a partially submerged log

4

Deadhead : a devoted fan of the rock group the Grateful Dead

The bond between the [Grateful] Dead and the Deadheads was extraordinary.

—Bill Barich

5

gardening : a faded blossom on a flowering plant

Pansies are still available for late spring bloom. Keep deadheads off.

—Edith Henderson

deadhead

2 of 2

verb

deadheaded; deadheading; deadheads

intransitive verb

1

: to make especially a return trip without a load

2

: to deadhead a plant

transitive verb

: to remove the faded flowers of (a plant) especially to keep a neat appearance and to promote reblooming by preventing seed production

Synonyms

Noun

• idiot
• moron
• stupid

Examples of deadhead in a Sentence

Noun

people knew that he was a deadhead and voted for him anyway

Verb

She's out in the garden deadheading the rosebushes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Deadhead spent blooms by cutting the flower stalks down to just above a strong leaf. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025

As steadfast as the Deadheads are, though, hardcore Metallica fanatics may be even more extreme. —Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025

Verb

Don’t forget to deadhead them to keep them looking their best for as long as possible. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025

Every night, Blakeney told me, an army of employees filed into Epic Universe to power wash sidewalks, deadhead the plants, repaint dirty walls, and replace lightbulbs. —Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1911, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for deadhead

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead