high-concept

adjective

high-con·​cept ˈhī-ˈkän-ˌsept How to pronounce high-concept (audio)
: having or exploiting elements (such as fast action, glamour, or suspense) that appeal to a wide audience
high-concept movies

Examples of high-concept in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the music video front, El Conejo Malo took a deliberate approach, unveiling high-concept pieces for over half the album’s tracks, each with its own distinct style and message. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026 Allegra Edwards is going from one high-concept single-camera comedy to another. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026 Especially from Sarah Gailey, whose high-concept SFF works feature clone wives, sentient (and sexy) parasites, and magic school noir—now, delving into the darkness of self-improvement communities. Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026 In a high-concept meta bait-and-switch, Pam Tanowitz choreographed Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony, then swapped out the score for a new para-Pastoral, by Caroline Shaw. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for high-concept

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-concept was in 1971

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-concept.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-concept. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster