middlebrow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowMostly journalistic, literary, and cultural criticism. Pejorative in informal use.
Quick answer
What does “middlebrow” mean?
A person, or their cultural tastes, which are seen as conventional, safe, and aiming for intellectual respectability but lacking in genuine sophistication, depth, or avant-garde spirit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, or their cultural tastes, which are seen as conventional, safe, and aiming for intellectual respectability but lacking in genuine sophistication, depth, or avant-garde spirit.
A cultural descriptor, often pejorative, for art, media, or ideas that are accessible and somewhat intellectual but perceived as derivative, unadventurous, or overly concerned with demonstrating cultural capital without true originality or high artistic merit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British cultural discourse, but the concept and term are well-established in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both, implying a lack of authentic taste or daring.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but possibly appears more in UK broadsheet newspapers and cultural commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “middlebrow” in a Sentence
be considered/labelled/seen as middlebrowdismiss something as middlebrowcater to a middlebrow audiencemiddlebrow + noun (e.g., middlebrow drama)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “middlebrow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The channel has been accused of middlebrowing its content to chase ratings.
American English
- Critics claimed the network middlebrowed the adaptation, stripping it of its edge.
adverb
British English
- The novel was written rather middlebrowly, with obvious metaphors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in media/arts marketing to describe a target demographic cautiously.
Academic
Used in cultural studies, media studies, and sociology to analyse taste hierarchies.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used by individuals discussing books, films, or art in a somewhat critical manner.
Technical
Not a technical term outside of cultural criticism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “middlebrow”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “middlebrow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “middlebrow”
- Using it as a compliment (it is usually derogatory).
- Confusing it with 'average' or 'mediocre'—it specifically implies pretension towards high culture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, typically. It is used pejoratively to describe cultural products or tastes that are seen as pretending to be intellectual or high-quality but are actually safe, derivative, and aimed at mass appeal among the educated.
Very rarely. Occasionally, it might be used in a neutral descriptive sense in academia, or reclaimed by someone to proudly describe accessible but 'quality' culture. However, its default usage is critical.
'Mainstream' is neutral, meaning widely popular. 'Middlebrow' adds a layer of judgement, implying the mainstream product has pretensions to intellectual or high-art status that it fails to earn.
No, it has low frequency. It is mostly found in writing about culture, arts, and media, particularly in reviews and critical essays. It is not a word for everyday conversation.
A person, or their cultural tastes, which are seen as conventional, safe, and aiming for intellectual respectability but lacking in genuine sophistication, depth, or avant-garde spirit.
Middlebrow is usually mostly journalistic, literary, and cultural criticism. pejorative in informal use. in register.
Middlebrow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd(ə)lbraʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd(ə)lˌbraʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The middlebrow consensus”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BROW (forehead) in the MIDDLE — not high (intellectual) or low (instinctual), but safely in between, trying to look smarter than it might be.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLECTUAL STATUS IS PHYSICAL HEIGHT (highbrow/lowbrow). Middlebrow is the metaphorical middling height.
Practice
Quiz
In cultural criticism, what is the primary connotation of 'middlebrow'?