highfalutin

adjective

high·​fa·​lu·​tin ˌhī-fə-ˈlü-tᵊn 

variants or less commonly hifalutin

1

: pretentious, fancy

highfalutin people

2

: expressed in or marked by the use of language that is elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means : pompous

giving a highfalutin speech

Did you know?

Highfalutin has a fine purpose: to describe pretentious people or language without making the person using it sound, well, pretentious. Were you to describe the high-flown speech of another using other adjectives available to you (grandiloquent, fustian, orotund) you might well be found guilty of the faux pas yourself. Highfalutin first appeared as American slang in the early 1800s, and like many slang terms it has had a lot of different spellings (hi, high faluting). The word most likely originated as a combination of the adjective high (as used in the phrase “high and mighty”) and the participle fluting. Why fluting? Maybe down-to-earth Americans thought that the overly formal, condescending, and flowery speech of the high and mighty sounded like the shrill and biting high tones of a flute. Whatever the reasoning, highfalutin has remained a staple of down-home American speech ever since.

Synonyms of highfalutin

• rhetorical
• ornate

Examples of highfalutin in a Sentence

a highfalutin way of talking

his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes, when color names are too highfalutin, conflict occurs. — Hannah Engler Harvey, Longreads, 30 July 2026

The anchors also asked Williams about working with Hoppy; the pair’s dynamic would see Hoppy explain something in highfalutin police jargon, until Williams’ Smitty explained it to Fred and Lamont in much simpler terms. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Apart from a few lingering entries in the sport sedan segment, there aren’t really any stick-shift cars out there with highfalutin aspirations. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 18 June 2026

Then there are 1997 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green cards, which just by typing that highfalutin name can give even the most savvy collector goose bumps. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from high entry 2 + alteration of fluting, present participle of flute

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for highfalutin

• gluten
• pluton
• rutin

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Kids Definition

highfalutin

adjective

high·​fa·​lu·​tin ˌhī-fə-ˈlüt-ᵊn 

: pretentious, pompous

highfalutin talk

highfalutin people