Highbrow describes things that are intellectual, sophisticated, or cultured, often requiring education or effort to understand and appreciate. A highbrow book might discuss complex philosophical ideas, while a highbrow conversation might reference classical literature or advanced scientific theories. Museums, opera houses, and university lectures are considered highbrow activities.

The word can also describe people who prefer these sophisticated interests. Someone with highbrow tastes might enjoy reading dense historical novels or listening to classical music rather than watching action movies or listening to pop songs.

Today, calling something highbrow means it appeals to people interested in serious artistic or intellectual pursuits.

Be careful: highbrow can sometimes carry a hint of criticism, suggesting that something is overly intellectual or that someone is being snobbish about their refined tastes. If you call a movie too highbrow, you might mean it's so focused on artistic merit that it forgets to be entertaining. The opposite is lowbrow, meaning simple or unsophisticated. Many people enjoy a mix of both: reading Shakespeare one day and watching cartoons the next.