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Showing results for talking head. Search instead for Talking+Head.
Synonyms

talking head

American  

noun

  1. Television Slang. a closeup picture of a person who is talking, especially as a participant in a talk show.

  2. Slang. a person whose talk is empty and pretentious.


talking head British  

noun

  1. (on television) a person, such as a newscaster, who is shown only from the shoulders up, and speaks without the use of any illustrative material

"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 talking head

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

The film, directed by Douglas Tirola, is assembled from various archival materials; the only talking head belongs to Bernstein himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Whereas Part Two opens with Reubens Face Timing Wolf and asking if he can pose questions to the talking head interviewees.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2025

Dr. Drew Pinsky, known for appearing on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab,” is now a conservative talking head who regularly sits down with the likes of Laura Ingraham and Alex Jones.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2025

Seacrest is a benign countenance, almost by design, an apolitical figure who rarely offers the audience much in the way of personal details, even in his role as pop culture talking head.

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2024

“At best we’re saying we don’t know,” says the talking head.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

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