egghead

[ eg-hed ]

noun

, Slang: Usually Disparaging.

1. an intellectual.

egghead

/ ˈɛɡˌhɛd /

noun

1. informal.
   an intellectual; highbrow

Sensitive Note

This term is usually used with disparaging intent, implying that an intellectual is out-of-touch with ordinary people. Though first used by journalists to insult editorial writers, egghead was popularized as an epithet of Adlai Stevenson, the 1952 Democratic presidential candidate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of egghead¹

1915–20; egg ¹ + head; by analogy with someone who is bald

Example Sentences

He made an easy target, the know-it-all liberal egghead who demeaned the wisdom of the American people.

From The Daily Beast

“Belligerent egghead” has rarely been a winning brand in presidential politics.

From The Daily Beast

That's something that egghead liberals are supposed to be guilty of.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody wanted to hand a plum invasion spot to some fat egghead from a snooty rag, he crabbed.

From The Daily Beast

Gore was painted as an egghead, and was, but again Southern-ness diluted the cocktail a bit.

From The Daily Beast

Well, the first time we met him of course we all thought he was so-called egghead, or whatever words you want to use.

From Project Gutenberg

"You know, Miss Shaw, this isn't just the roughneck's scorn for the egghead," Travis said.

From Project Gutenberg

My egghead Psi expert was barely able to restrain himself—he had some bitter things to tell me.

From Project Gutenberg

He needed and wanted the products of scientific research, but he had a vague fear of the scientist—the "egghead."

From Project Gutenberg

On the porch was the Egghead feeding ice cream to Mimi Lafontaine.

From Project Gutenberg