highbrow
adjective C2
Plain meaning
intellectual, serious, and often associated with elite culture
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe intellectual, serious, and often associated with elite culture, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded highbrow, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a highbrow assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a highbrow responsehighbrow behavioura highbrow situation
Watch out
Do not use “very highbrow” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
highbrowness (noun, where natural)highbrowly (adverb, where natural)