lowbrow
See also: low-brow
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
A bahuvrihi compound of low + brow, Americanism, circa 1902. Refers to the (by that time discredited) pseudoscience of phrenology, which suggested that a person of low intelligence and sophistication would possess a lower brow-line than someone of greater intelligence and sophistication.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈloʊbɹaʊ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈləʊbɹaʊ/
Adjective
lowbrow (comparative more lowbrow, superlative most lowbrow)
- Unsophisticated, not intended for an audience of intelligence, education or culture.
- The Three Stooges are known for their lowbrow slapstick humor consisting of foolish action for the masses.
Noun
lowbrow (plural lowbrows)
Synonyms
- See Thesaurus:idiot
Antonyms
Related terms
References
- ESC, 2003. Re:highbrow, middlebrow, lowbrow, The Phrase finder.
- Robert Hendrickson, 1997. Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (New York: Facts on File)