highfalutin
(US, informal) Self-important, pompous; arrogant or egotistical.
ˌhaɪ.fəˈlu.tɪnDocumented since 1830sSilenthistorical112 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
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Born ~1839 · no dated citations yet19th centurySee decade cohort →
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#1·Apr 27, 2026
(US, informal) Self-important, pompous; arrogant or egotistical.
It's only a matter of time before some highfalutin developer builds a huge hotel and ruins the scenery.
Origin: Possible an alteration of high-fluting. Another speculation connects the term with high-flighting/-flying. First appears c. 1839 in the Spirit of the Times. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(archaic) Pompous speech or writing.
Don't write so much highfalutin next time.
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Other words near "highfalutin" (H)
highdeahigh dohHigh Dutchhigherhigher-speed railhigher than a kitehigh falutionhighflierhigh fructose corn syruphighgatehigh-gohigh-hat
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