feel the Bern

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

Meaning · English

To support the American politician Bernie Sanders (born 1941), especially during his 2016 or 2020 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Register: humorous, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

It also helped that Mr. Sanders[…]was both decidedly uncool and new to presidential politics, affording his campaign a paradoxical edge that inspired millions of young supporters to “feel the bern” and vote for him over Hillary Clinton.

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 “feel the Bern” mean?

To support the American politician Bernie Sanders (born 1941), especially during his 2016 or 2020 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Is “feel the Bern” formal or informal?

feel the Bern is generally humorous, slang.