karen
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Pejorative term for an obnoxious, angry, or entitled (usually but not exclusively white and middle-aged) woman. Also male Karen or Kevin to denote a man of the same personality type.
Register: informalEra: 2020s
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
• Gen Z / internet register
Sources & notes
Adapted from Wikipedia “Glossary of 2020s slang” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30). US Gen Z / internet usage.
Common questions
What does “karen” mean?
Pejorative term for an obnoxious, angry, or entitled (usually but not exclusively white and middle-aged) woman. Also male Karen or Kevin to denote a man of the same personality type.
Is “karen” formal or informal?
karen is generally informal.