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