What does blockheaded mean?
'Blockheaded' is an informal adjective meaning stupid or obstinately foolish, describing someone who shows a dense, unyielding lack of intelligence or good sense. It derives from the older noun 'blockhead', a term dating back several centuries that likened a dull person to a solid block of wood. In modern usage the word carries a mildly contemptuous tone and is typically aimed at people, or at the decisions and mistakes they make, as in 'a blockheaded decision'. It sits alongside similar terms such as 'thickheaded' and 'boneheaded', though it tends to suggest not merely a careless error but a deeper, more stubborn thickness of mind. The word is well understood on both sides of the Atlantic, though it appears less frequently today than many of its synonyms, giving it a slightly old-fashioned, almost literary flavour. For writers seeking a forceful but not vulgar way to describe foolishness or mental inflexibility, 'blockheaded' remains an effective and expressive choice.
adjectiveStupid or obstinately foolish; lacking intelligence or good sense in a way that seems wilfully stubborn.
- (of a person or their actions) Stupid; showing a stubborn lack of intelligence or good judgement.
"It was a blockheaded decision to launch the product without testing it first."
"Only someone truly blockheaded would sign a contract without reading it."
"He gave her a blockheaded stare when she explained the plan for the third time."
The insult 'blockhead' predates its adjective by centuries — Shakespeare-era English was already calling people blocks of wood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blockheaded
'Blockheaded' is formed from 'blockhead', a noun attested in English from around the mid-16th century that originally referred to a head-shaped block used by hatmakers and later came to mean a stupid person — a head as lifeless as a block of wood. The root 'block' itself entered Middle English from Old French 'bloc', ultimately of Germanic origin. As a compound-derived adjective, 'blockheaded' emerged later, applying the noun's insulting sense to describe character or conduct.
Word family
Usage notes
Informal and mildly derogatory, usually applied to people or to decisions and behaviour attributed to them. Less common than 'thickheaded' or 'boneheaded' in modern usage, but understood across British and American English.
Don't confuse with
Both mean stupid, but 'boneheaded' typically implies a thoughtless blunder, while 'blockheaded' suggests a denser, more stubborn lack of sense.