Egghead: meaning, definitions and examples
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egghead
[ ˈɛɡˌhɛd ]
informal slang
An egghead is a slang term for an intellectual, someone who is highly academic or studious, often perceived as socially awkward. Typically used in a humorous or disparaging way, it implies that a person is more focused on scholarly pursuits than practical or social abilities.
Synonyms
brainiac, geek, intellectual, scholar
Examples of usage
- He's such an egghead, always buried in books.
- The eggheads at the university developed a complex theory.
- Her friends call her an egghead because of her love for mathematics.
Translations
Translations of the word "egghead" in other languages:
🇵🇹 cabeça de ovo
- intelectual
- nerd
🇮🇳 अंडा मस्तिष्क
- बुद्धिमान
- नर्ड
🇩🇪 Eierkopf
- Intellektueller
- Nerd
🇮🇩 kepala telur
- intelektual
- nerd
🇺🇦 яйцеподібна голова
- інтелектуал
- нерж
🇵🇱 jajogłowy
- intelektualista
- nerd
🇯🇵 卵頭
- 知識人
- ナード
🇫🇷 tête d'œuf
- intellectuel
- nerd
🇪🇸 cabeza de huevo
- intelectual
- nerd
🇹🇷 yumurta kafası
- entelektüel
- nerd
🇰🇷 계란 머리
- 지식인
- 너드
🇸🇦 رأس بيضة
- مثقف
- نيرد
🇨🇿 vajíčková hlava
- intelektuál
- nerd
🇸🇰 vajíčková hlava
- intelektuál
- nerd
🇨🇳 蛋头
- 知识分子
- 极客
🇸🇮 jajčna glava
- intelektualec
- nerd
🇮🇸 egghead
- fræðimaður
- nerd
🇰🇿 жұмыртқа бас
- интеллектуал
- нёрд
🇬🇪 კვერცხის თავი
- ინტელექტუალი
- ნერდი
🇦🇿 yumurta baş
- intellektual
- nerd
🇲🇽 cabeza de huevo
- intelectual
- nerd
Etymology
The term 'egghead' originated in the United States in the early 20th century. The earliest recorded usage dates back to around 1930, often used to mock or poke fun at intellectuals or those with an overly academic demeanor. The word likely derives from the visual association of an egg-shaped head, suggesting a lack of physical prowess or social skills, prototypically representing a stereotypical nerd or academic. Throughout the decades, it has been used in popular culture and media to characterize characters or individuals who prioritize intellect over physical activities or social interactions. Although initially pejorative, the term has sometimes been embraced in humorous contexts by those who identify as intellectuals, evolving over time to a more neutral or even positive connotation in some circles.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #39,550, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
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