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

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

To care for them as houseplants indoors, deadhead spent flowers and bring the pot indoors before temperatures dip to freezing. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025

Use the bypass pruning shears, which also have a handy safety locking mechanism that protects your hands from the blades when not in use, to deadhead plants accordingly. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025

Verb

To deadhead these blooms, snip the stem just above a leaf node or a set of healthy leaves. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025

Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides, but be prepared to deadhead any plants that tend to reseed prolifically. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1911, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for deadhead

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