highfalutin

adjective

high·​fa·​lu·​tin ˌhī-fə-ˈlü-tᵊn 

variants or less commonly hifalutin

1

: pretentious, fancy

highfalutin people

2

: expressed in or marked by the use of language that is elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means : pompous

giving a highfalutin speech

Synonyms

• aureate
• florid
• flowery
• grandiloquent
• high-flown
• high-sounding
• magnific
• ornate
• purple
• rhetorical
• rhetoric

Examples of highfalutin in a Sentence

a highfalutin way of talking

his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief

Recent Examples on the Web

In the highfalutin world of fine art, labels matter. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Both film and suite balance highfalutin glory and deep, deep rot. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2024

Fantasia 2000 is not as highfalutin as the groundbreaking original. —Donald Liebenson, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024

Newsom, for all his highfalutin rhetoric about championing all Californians, just can’t quit the gentry and the insiders who have made his career. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from high entry 2 + alteration of fluting, present participle of flute

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

highfalutin

adjective

high·​fa·​lu·​tin ˌhī-fə-ˈlüt-ᵊn 

: pretentious, pompous

highfalutin talk

highfalutin people