swellhead: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, somewhat dated/archaic
Quick answer
What does “swellhead” mean?
A person who is conceited, arrogant, or excessively proud of themselves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is conceited, arrogant, or excessively proud of themselves.
The state of being conceited or having an inflated sense of one's own importance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties but considered quite dated. Possibly more common in historical American usage (early 20th century).
Connotations
Equally pejorative and informal in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary use in both regions; encountered more in older literature or deliberate stylistic choices.
Grammar
How to Use “swellhead” in a Sentence
[to be] a swellhead[to call someone] a swellhead[to have] a swellheadVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously to describe a colleague with an inflated ego after a promotion.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in historical or literary analysis of informal language.
Everyday
Informal, dated. Might be used by older generations or for humorous, ironic effect.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “swellhead”
- Using it as a formal term.
- Confusing it with 'swelled head' (the condition).
- Using it as a verb (to swellhead is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered quite dated and has low frequency in modern English. It is mostly encountered in older texts or used for humorous or stylistic effect.
No, it is almost exclusively a noun. The adjectival form would be 'swellheaded' (e.g., 'a swellheaded politician'), but even this is very rare.
They are very close synonyms, both informal and pejorative. 'Bighead' is more common in contemporary British English, while 'swellhead' is more archaic and perhaps slightly more American in historical flavour.
It is insulting, implying arrogance and conceit, but its dated, almost quaint quality can soften the insult, making it sound playful or mildly critical rather than harshly abusive.
A person who is conceited, arrogant, or excessively proud of themselves.
Swellhead is usually informal, somewhat dated/archaic in register.
Swellhead: in British English it is pronounced /ˈswɛlhɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈswɛlˌhɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have a swellhead”
- “get a swellhead”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone's head literally swelling up with pride and arrogance.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIDE/ARROGANCE IS PHYSICAL SWELLING/INFLATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'swellhead'?