tinfoil hatter

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A person who believes in or propagates conspiracy theories; a conspiracy theorist.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The Washington State Dental Association is backing his $300,000 pro-fluoride campaign. Danelle Weaver and her friends, meanwhile, have raised less than $10,000. But they are undaunted. "People think we are tinfoil hatters," says Weaver, "but we're just average families who take the time to research

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “tinfoil hatter” mean?

A person who believes in or propagates conspiracy theories; a conspiracy theorist.

Is “tinfoil hatter” formal or informal?

tinfoil hatter is generally derogatory, slang.