noun
- Plural of highbrowism; intellectual or cultural attitudes, behaviors, or expressions associated with highbrow taste; pretentious displays of learning or refinement.
Usage: Usually plural or used as a mass noun; Often used critically or humorously to describe affected intellectualism
Examples
- The critic's review was full of highbrowisms that most readers found difficult to follow.
- She dismissed his constant highbrowisms about classical music as mere pretension.
- The gallery opening attracted people eager to display their own highbrowisms.
- His speech was peppered with unnecessary highbrowisms that obscured his actual point.
- The magazine poked fun at academic highbrowisms in its satirical column.
- Not all intellectual discourse relies on highbrowisms; clarity is often more impressive.