po-faced

American

[poh-feyst] / ˈpoʊˌfeɪst /

adjective

Chiefly British.

having an overly serious demeanor or attitude; humorless.

po-faced British

adjective

(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.

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

Half the time I thought I was in some Wes Anderson po-faced sendup of happenings and performance art.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2021

While promoting the album, Horan has deliberately cut loose from the po-faced "serious musician" image he projected on his first solo outing.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2020

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

From Unmanned by Oliver, Stephen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023