highflown

Highflown is an adjective describing language, prose, or behavior that is overly lofty, ornate, or pompous. It often carries a negative or critical connotation, suggesting that the style or aims are impractical or inaccessible due to extravagant or pretentious expression. The term can also describe dreams, plans, or rhetoric that aspire to great loftiness but fail to connect with practical realities.

Etymology and usage history: highflown derives from the combination of high and flown, invoking an image of elevated, almost airborne expression. The hyphenated form high-flown was common in early modern English, while the unhyphenated version highflown is also widely used today. In modern writing, highflown tends to appear in criticism, literary analysis, and journalism as a judgment about style rather than content alone.

Context and nuance: Highflown language is not merely sophisticated or elevated; it implies unnecessary ornament or self-importance. It is frequently used to critique speeches, essays, or plans that prioritize grandeur over clarity or practicality. While some readers may appreciate ceremonial or rhetorical flourish, the term is typically pejorative when applied to everyday communication or real-world proposals.

See also: bombastic; grandiose; pretentious; pompous; elevated style; rhetoric.