deadhead

1 of 2

noun

dead·​head ˈded-ˌhed 

1

: one who has not paid for a ticket

2

: a dull or stupid person

3

: a partially submerged log

4

Deadhead : a devoted fan of the rock group the Grateful Dead

The bond between the [Grateful] Dead and the Deadheads was extraordinary.

—Bill Barich

5

gardening : a faded blossom on a flowering plant

Pansies are still available for late spring bloom. Keep deadheads off.

—Edith Henderson

deadhead

2 of 2

verb

deadheaded; deadheading; deadheads

intransitive verb

1

: to make especially a return trip without a load

2

: to deadhead a plant

transitive verb

: to remove the faded flowers of (a plant) especially to keep a neat appearance and to promote reblooming by preventing seed production

Synonyms of deadhead

Noun

• idiot
• moron
• stupid

Examples of deadhead in a Sentence

Noun

people knew that he was a deadhead and voted for him anyway

Verb

She's out in the garden deadheading the rosebushes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Deadhead Spent Blooms Remove wilted or spent blooms (deadhead), so the plant is not using energy for seed development. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 June 2026

While that’s all in the past, Rhino’s reissue and Playing Dead’s set will let Deadheads flash back or let new fans get a peak into a classic set. — Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026

Verb

There’s no need to deadhead fan flowers—the blooms will keep coming well into fall. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026

To deadhead, simply pinch off the faded flower, along with the seed pod below. — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1826, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for deadhead

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead