What does baldfaced mean?
Baldfaced is an adjective describing something done openly and without the slightest attempt at concealment, most often applied to dishonesty: a baldfaced lie is told with such audacity that no effort is made to disguise it. The word conveys strong moral disapproval, implying not just deception but a shameless refusal to hide it. It appears chiefly in American English, where it functions as a variant of the older term 'barefaced'; British usage still favours barefaced for this sense. Beyond human behaviour, baldfaced has a literal zoological application, describing horses whose faces bear a broad white blaze, and it forms part of the common name of the baldfaced hornet, a black-and-white North American wasp named for its pale facial markings. The word thus bridges two registers: everyday condemnation of flagrant conduct and precise description of animal coloration, making it a vivid addition to both critical and descriptive vocabulary.
Openly and shamelessly undisguised; making no attempt at concealment.
"The company's baldfaced attempt to raise prices during the crisis angered customers."
Used almost exclusively attributively, especially with words like 'lie', 'deceit', and 'hypocrisy'.
(Of an animal) having a face that is white or markedly paler than the rest of the body.
"The baldfaced stallion stood out among the bay mares in the paddock."
Chiefly North American; also found in the compound name 'baldfaced hornet'.
A 'baldfaced' lie is one so bare it doesn't even bother to cover its face.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of baldfaced
Baldfaced is formed within English from the adjective 'bald', meaning bare or uncovered, combined with 'faced', literally 'having a (particular kind of) face'. It arose as an American variant of the older expression 'barefaced', which dates to the sixteenth century and likewise uses a physical image—a bare, uncovered face—to describe conduct that is undisguised and without shame. The literal use for animals with pale faces developed alongside the figurative one, and the term survives prominently today in the name of the baldfaced hornet.
How baldfaced is actually used
In the figurative sense, 'baldfaced' carries strong disapproval and is used attributively before nouns like 'lie', 'hypocrisy', or 'attempt'. It is more common in American English than in British English, where 'barefaced' predominates. The animal-marking sense is largely confined to veterinary, agricultural, and entomological contexts.
Easily confused with baldfaced
Bold-faced means impudent or printed in bold type; baldfaced means unconcealed and shameless, though the two are sometimes used interchangeably.
Barefaced is the older British equivalent meaning unconcealed or shameless, while baldfaced is the more common American variant.