loftier; loftiest
1
literary
: rising to a great height : very tall and impressive
lofty redwood trees
lofty buildings
2
: very high and good : deserving to be admired
He set lofty goals for himself as a teacher.
lofty ideals/standards
3
: showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
The professor spoke with a lofty [=haughty] air.
She showed a lofty disregard for their objections.
Cite this Entry
“Lofty.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/lofty. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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