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Definition of egghead

egghead

/ˈɛɡ.hɛd/
egg · head
Plural:eggheads
•
Adjective:eggheaded
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egghead Lexical Profile

egghead Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A highly academic, studious, or intellectual person, especially one considered out of touch with ordinary people and practical matters (informal, often derogatory).

Example

"Critics dismissed the policy proposal as the impractical theory of a university egghead."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for egghead

Word Nuance & Usage

"Egghead" is an informal and often mildly disparaging term that portrays an intellectual or academic as bookish, elitist, and out of touch with practical, everyday life.

• Rhymes for egghead

• Nearby Words

egg wash
eggbeater
eggcup
egghead
eggless
egglike
eggnog

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in early 20th-century American English from "egg" and "head" in reference to a high, bald forehead associated with deep thinkers, the term gained widespread popularity during the 1952 U.S. presidential campaign to describe Adlai Stevenson and his intellectual supporters.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Egghead. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/egghead
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