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
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
The dialogue is overly ornate, with long monologues filled with highfalutin references, and there’s no distinct characterization: A Bronx pawnbroker talks the same as a Manhattan equities trader.
—
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025
Its story clearly spoke to the widest swath of voters, even if many pundits predicted that the tonier, more highfalutin adult drama Conclave would emerge as a consensus winner.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
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Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025
Its story clearly spoke to the widest swath of voters, even if many pundits predicted that the tonier, more highfalutin adult drama Conclave would emerge as a consensus winner.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
There was nothing highfalutin or fake about her.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2025
In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for highfalutin
Cite this Entry
“Highfalutin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highfalutin. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
highfalutin
adjective
high·fa·lu·tin
ˌhī-fə-ˈlüt-ᵊn
: pretentious, pompous
highfalutin talk
highfalutin people
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