scatterbrain

noun

scat·​ter·​brain ˈska-tər-ˌbrān How to pronounce scatterbrain (audio)
informal
: a person who is forgetful, disorganized, or unable to concentrate or think clearly
The English, who had raised eccentricity and poor organization to a high art, and placed the scatterbrain on a pedestal, loathed such Middle European things as rules, conventions, and dictatorships.Simon Winchester

Example Sentences

Where did I put my keys? I'm such a scatterbrain today. don't be such a scatterbrain—it's only a wedding, not the invasion of Normandy

Word History

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scatterbrain was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near scatterbrain

Cite this Entry

“Scatterbrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scatterbrain. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

scatterbrain

noun
scat·​ter·​brain ˈskat-ər-ˌbrān How to pronounce scatterbrain (audio)
: a silly careless person incapable of concentration
scatterbrained
-ˌbrānd
adjective
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