Karen

¹ American  

[kuh-ren] / kəˈrɛn /

noun

plural

Karens,

plural

Karen

1. a group of people of eastern and southern Myanmar (Burma).

2. one of these people.

3. the language of the Karen, a Tibeto-Burman language of the Sino-Tibetan family.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Karen people or their language.

Karen ² American  

[kar-uhn, kahr-] / ˈkær ən, ˈkɑr- /

noun

1. Also Karin a first name, form of Katherine.

2. Informal: Disparaging.

   1. a white, usually middle-class woman who is rude, demanding, and aggressive toward other people, particularly customer service workers.

   2. a person acting in an aggressive, entitled, rude way.

      He went full Karen on the poor store manager and threatened to get her fired.

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Karen British  

/ kəˈrɛn /

noun

1. a member of a Thai people of Myanmar

2. the language of this people, probably related to Thai and belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family

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Example Sentences

Sir Keir moved to replace the previous US ambassador Karen Pierce, a civil servant, with Lord Mandelson when US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January last year.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Even as Mayor Karen Bass’ signature homelessness initiative brings more people indoors, a growing number are winding up back on the street.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program to tiny home villages, many types of interim shelter have high rates of exits to the streets and unknown locations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Dow has designated its chief operating officer, Karen Carter, to succeed Jim Fitterling as the chemical maker’s chief executive, effective July 1.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Matt and Karen hung pots and pans on nails in the pantry.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy