Standard Lemma guide

head-scratcher

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈhɛdˌskɹæt͡ʃɚ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something particularly puzzling or confusing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: poser, stumper, nutcracker

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A device used to scratch the head.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scratcher, device

History

Etymology

From head + scratcher. Literal sense from 1873, figurative from 1971.