highfalutin

or high·fa·lu·tin', hi·fa·lu·tin, hi·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

Are you one of those highfalutin tipplers who will only drink single-malt?

From The Daily Beast

Initially, we're meant to identify with Hart, who objects whenever Cohle's highfalutin Satre-isms get out of hand.

From The Daily Beast

He hated anything that was highfalutin, and he had a BS detector—his phrase again—that was unmatched in the business.

From The Daily Beast

That phrase is maybe too highfalutin, but it's too famous to dispense with.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond Human Nature succeeds by delivering serious arguments that challenge the reader without seeming dense or highfalutin.

From The Daily Beast

He's the only one of these fellows I've tackled who didn't tell me a lot of highfalutin rot they wanted put into the article.

From Project Gutenberg

He hated the "highfalutin" bearing of these "furriners," who carried their chins aloft like masters of creation.

From Project Gutenberg

"An' you, Em, look more highfalutin' than a peacock," he replied.

From Project Gutenberg

Often he alluded to the opening for an American magazine, "not quite so highfalutin as the Atlantic nor so popular as Harper's."

From Project Gutenberg

I stuck to my colors—that's a highfalutin way of putting it—and I've got to pay the penalty.

From Project Gutenberg