foghorn: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Informal (especially for extended meaning). Formal in maritime/technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “foghorn” mean?
A loud horn used on ships or at lighthouses to warn of danger during fog, due to low visibility.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A loud horn used on ships or at lighthouses to warn of danger during fog, due to low visibility.
Any loud, harsh, penetrating, or blaring sound; a loud, unpleasant voice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use the same term for the object. Potential minor differences in maritime jargon.
Connotations
Identical. Both invoke imagery of the sea, warnings, and loud noise.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in regions with coastal/maritime industries or frequent fog (e.g., UK, Northeastern US, Pacific Northwest).
Grammar
How to Use “foghorn” in a Sentence
The N blastedThe sound of the NA N voiceLike a NVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foghorn” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Foghorn' is not standard as a verb in British English.
American English
- 'Foghorn' is not standard as a verb in American English. 'Blare like a foghorn' is used instead.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He's got a real foghorn voice, you can hear him across the football pitch.
American English
- She has a foghorn laugh that carries across the entire restaurant.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'His presentation style was a foghorn in a room of whispers.'
Academic
Rare, found in historical, geographical, or technical studies of navigation/meteorology.
Everyday
Common in descriptive language, especially for loud sounds/voices or when discussing coastal weather.
Technical
Standard in maritime navigation, meteorology, and coastal engineering.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foghorn”
- Misspelling as two words: 'fog horn'. Using it as a verb without proper derivation (e.g., 'He foghorned' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, closed compound word: 'foghorn'.
No, it is not a standard verb. To describe the action, you would say 'sound the foghorn', 'blast the foghorn', or 'blare like a foghorn'.
A foghorn is specifically a deep, loud horn used as a navigational signal in fog. A siren is a higher-pitched device used for various alarms (emergencies, warnings) and is not limited to maritime use.
It is informal and can be humorous or mildly critical, but it is not highly offensive. Context is key: calling a friend's laugh 'a foghorn' is likely playful; describing a colleague's voice that way in a report would be unprofessional.
A loud horn used on ships or at lighthouses to warn of danger during fog, due to low visibility.
Foghorn is usually neutral to informal (especially for extended meaning). formal in maritime/technical contexts. in register.
Foghorn: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒɡ.hɔːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːɡ.hɔːrn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a foghorn (describing a very loud voice)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine FOG so thick you can't see, so you need a HORN to warn people. Fog + Horn = Foghorn.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOUDNESS / OBTRUSIVENESS IS A FOGHORN (e.g., 'a foghorn voice'). WARNING IS A FOGHORN.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely metaphorical use of 'foghorn'?