highfalutin

Also high·fa·lu·ting
Or high·fa·lu·tin',

[hahy-fuh-loot-n]

adjective

Informal.

1. seeming or trying to seem superior, important, etc.; pompous; pretentious.

highfalutin

/ ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn /

adjective

1. informal,  pompous or pretentious

Word History and Origins

Origin of highfalutin¹

First recorded in 1830–40; high + falutin (perhaps originally flutin, variant of fluting, present participle of flute )

Word History and Origins

Origin of highfalutin¹

C19: from _high + -falutin, perhaps variant of fluting, from _flute

Example Sentences

The highfalutin prestige animation studio is signaling to the “Minecraft” generation that they can do fun new movies too.

From Los Angeles Times

And it could have a huge impact on the game because, at the risk of getting highfalutin, it would require a new way of thinking about time.

From BBC

You heard highfalutin' rhetoric about how they were going to end abortion in the U.S. forever.

From Salon

The highfalutin parallel is to “Candide,” the classic 18th century novel about a naif who endures the horrors of civilization: chaos, selfishness, disease and destruction.

From Los Angeles Times

A second inscription at the Missouri School of Journalism, my alma mater, is also on the mark, though it’s even more mockable and highfalutin: "The Schoolmaster to the People."

From Salon