high profile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, journalistic, business
Quick answer
What does “high profile” mean?
attracting a lot of public attention and interest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
attracting a lot of public attention and interest; very conspicuous or prominent.
Used to describe a person, role, event, or case that is widely known, receives significant media coverage, and is considered important or influential within a particular sphere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is consistently hyphenated as 'high-profile' in both, especially when used attributively.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British media/political discourse, but widely used in both varieties. In American business contexts, may overlap with 'high-visibility'.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties in news, politics, and business reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “high profile” in a Sentence
high-profile + noun (attributive)to keep a high profileto maintain a high profileVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high profile” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The CEO was advised to high-profile the new initiative during the press conference. (Rare, jargonistic)
American English
- The campaign strategy is to high-profile the issue in key states. (Rare, jargonistic)
adverb
British English
- The minister has been acting very high-profile lately. (Colloquial/Non-standard)
American English
- They decided to run the campaign very high-profile. (Colloquial/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- She took on a high-profile role as chair of the inquiry.
- It was the most high-profile defection from the party in years.
American English
- The firm handles many high-profile divorce cases.
- He secured a high-profile endorsement for his campaign.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to key executive roles, major clients, or public-facing projects that are critical to a company's reputation.
Academic
Used to describe prominent researchers, widely-publicised studies, or influential academic positions.
Everyday
Less common in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing celebrities, politicians, or major news stories.
Technical
In law, refers to cases receiving significant media attention; in PR/marketing, describes strategies or campaigns designed for maximum visibility.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high profile”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high profile”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high profile”
- Using it predicatively without 'a' (INCORRECT: 'The job is high-profile.' CORRECT: 'The job is a high-profile one.' or 'It's a high-profile job.')
- Misspelling as one word ('highprofile') or two words without a hyphen when attributive ('high profile case').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is almost always hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a high-profile case). It may sometimes appear without the hyphen after a verb (e.g., to keep a high profile), but the hyphenated form is standard for the adjective.
The direct antonym is 'low-profile'. A low-profile person or activity avoids public attention.
It can be used for anything that attracts significant public attention: people, jobs, cases, events, projects, campaigns, etc.
Not exactly. It means 'conspicuous' or 'attracting much attention'. A person can become high-profile because of a single scandal, not lasting fame. It emphasises current visibility in the public eye rather than enduring celebrity status.
attracting a lot of public attention and interest.
High profile is usually formal, journalistic, business in register.
High profile: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈprəʊ.faɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈproʊ.faɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To keep a high profile (to remain very visible)”
- “To maintain a high profile”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SKYSCRAPER's PROFILE against the sky—tall, visible from everywhere. HIGH + PROFILE = a shape/silhouette that stands out very clearly to the public eye.
Conceptual Metaphor
VISIBILITY IS HEIGHT / PROMINENCE IS ELEVATION (e.g., high office, high-ranking, high-level).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'high-profile' used CORRECTLY?