What does forehead mean?
The forehead is the part of the human face that stretches from the eyebrows up to the hairline, forming the front of the head. It is one of the most expressive areas of the body: frowning wrinkles it, surprise raises it, and sweat or fever make it a natural touchstone for how we feel, which is why phrases like 'wiping the sweat from one's forehead' are so common. Beyond anatomy, the forehead has long carried symbolic weight. A high or broad forehead has traditionally been read as a sign of intelligence or nobility — an idea taken to pseudo-scientific extremes in nineteenth-century phrenology. The word itself is straightforward and neutral in tone, used equally in casual conversation and medical description. In British English it is usually pronounced with stress on the first syllable, while American speakers more often emphasize the second, making it a small but neat marker of transatlantic difference.
nounThe part of the face above the eyebrows and below the hairline; the front of the head.
- The part of the face between the eyebrows and the hairline.
- Figuratively, a measure of intellect or high thinking, as in a 'high' or 'broad' forehead traditionally associated with wisdom.
"She wiped the sweat from her forehead after the long climb."
"He frowned, creasing his forehead into deep lines."
"The portrait emphasized the philosopher's broad, noble forehead."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple people's foreheads.
"The players collided, and both clutched their sore foreheads."
In phrenology, the size and shape of a person's forehead was once taken seriously as a map of their intelligence and personality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forehead
Forehead is Old English in origin, formed from 'fore' (meaning 'before' or 'in front') combined with 'hed' ('head'), literally naming the part of the head at the very front. It appears in early English texts and has remained essentially unchanged for over a thousand years. The element 'fore' is shared by many other English words such as 'foresee', 'foremost', and 'foreman', all describing position ahead of something else.
How forehead is actually used
A common everyday word with no particular formality. Note that in British English the standard pronunciation stresses the first syllable ('FOR-rid'), while many American speakers say 'fore-HEAD'; both are accepted.
Easily confused with forehead
Brow can refer to the eyebrow or the forehead itself, but in anatomy 'brow' often means the ridge above the eyes, whereas 'forehead' is the whole expanse up to the hairline.