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po-faced

American  
[poh-fayst] / ˈpoʊˌfeɪst /

adjective

Chiefly British.
  1. having an overly serious demeanor or attitude; humorless.


po-faced British  

adjective

  1. (of a person) wearing a disapproving stern expression

"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

Etymology

Origin of po-faced

Origin uncertain; perhaps po a chamber pot + -faced, influenced by poker-faced


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The runways of Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Tom Ford and John Galliano weren’t merely po-faced models stalking a runway but full theatrical, momentous events.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2025

“We intend to fulfill our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country,” Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, said Wednesday as a po-faced William looked on.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 25, 2022

All this makes ER sound very po-faced, when my baby and I can tell you that it is just really, really good.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 9, 2019

“The organization in those days was somewhat po-faced and risk-averse,” Mr. Donaldson said, using a phrase to describe a humorless stance.

From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2019

We remember the po-faced poets who went away never to return from the Ambition Wars & Success Sorties.

From Unmanned by Stephen Oliver

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