airhead
UK[ˈeəhed]US[ˈerhed]
n
a stupid or foolish person
n
a person who is not serious or lacks intelligence
Morpheme Breakdown
air
head
air
substance, emptiness
head
body part, mind
Etymology
the word "airhead" is a modern english compound, formed in the mid-20th century. it combines "air," denoting emptiness or lack of substance, with "head," a metonym for the mind or the person. the literal construction suggests a skull filled with air rather than brains, creating a vivid metaphor for vacuity and foolishness. this pejorative term follows a long tradition of using "head" in compounds to describe mental characteristics (e.g., "blockhead") and leverages the ancient metaphorical use of "air" to signify the insubstantial and the empty.
Analysis
Structure: air (substance, emptiness) + head (body part, mind)
air (from latin aer, greek aēr, meaning 'air, atmosphere'; in english, used metaphorically for emptiness or insubstantiality). head (from old english hēafod, meaning 'top of the body, seat of intellect'; here, it refers to the mind or person).
Examples
he's a lovable guy, but he can be a real airhead sometimes.
don't listen to her advice; she's a total airhead when it comes to finances.
the character in the movie is portrayed as a stereotypical airhead more interested in fashion than physics.