egghead

[ eg-hed ]

See synonyms for egghead on Thesaurus.com

nounSlang: Usually Disparaging.

an intellectual.

Origin of egghead

1915–20; egg¹ + head; by analogy with someone who is bald

usage note For egghead

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.

Words Nearby egghead

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use egghead in a sentence

He made an easy target, the know-it-all liberal egghead who demeaned the wisdom of the American people.
Obamacare Architect: I Wanted to Sound Smart | Ben Jacobs | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Belligerent egghead” has rarely been a winning brand in presidential politics.
What Makes Ted Cruz Tick? | Justin Green | April 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
That's something that egghead liberals are supposed to be guilty of.
Romney and Culture: Flip-Flop-Flip! | Michael Tomasky | August 1, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Nobody wanted to hand a plum invasion spot to some fat egghead from a snooty rag, he crabbed.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day | Timothy M. Gay | June 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Gore was painted as an egghead, and was, but again Southern-ness diluted the cocktail a bit.
Rick Perry: Red-State Warrior | Michael Tomasky | August 13, 2011 | 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.
Warren Commission (8 of 26): Hearings Vol. VIII (of 15) | The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
"You know, Miss Shaw, this isn't just the roughneck's scorn for the egghead," Travis said.
Oomphel in the Sky | Henry Beam Piper
My egghead Psi expert was barely able to restrain himself—he had some bitter things to tell me.
Modus Vivendi | Gordon Randall Garrett
He needed and wanted the products of scientific research, but he had a vague fear of the scientist—the "egghead."
Damned If You Don't | Gordon Randall Garrett
On the porch was the egghead feeding ice cream to Mimi Lafontaine.
Skippy Bedelle | Owen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for egghead

egghead

/ (ˈɛɡˌhɛd) /

noun

informal an intellectual; highbrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse