Word of the Day - 10/01/26
highfalutin
/,haɪfə'lutən/(adj.): pretentious or pompous
His highfalutin speech about artistic integrity seemed out of place at the casual art fair.
Word Origin
The word 'highfalutin' originated in American English around the mid-19th century. It is widely believed to be a fanciful and somewhat jocular alteration of phrases such as 'high-flying' or 'high-flown,' which both describe something pretentious, grandiloquent, or ostentatious. The 'falutin'' component does not derive from a distinct, separate root word; rather, it appears to be an arbitrary, possibly onomatopoeic or mock-grand addition designed to reinforce the word's meaning of pompousness or exaggerated style.