beatnik

[ beet-nik ]

/ ˈbit nɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR beatnik ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) a member of the Beat Generation.

a person who rejects or avoids conventional behavior, dress, etc.

Nearby words

beating, beating-up, beatitude, beatitudes, beatles, beatnik, beatniks, beaton, beatrice, beatrix, beats me

Origin of beatnik

1955–60, Americanism; beat (adj.) (as in Beat Generation) + -nik

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for beatnik

Guggenheim pulled the confirmed bachelor into her coven of beatnik friends.
Casa de la Torre: The Museum of Mexico’s Liberace|Brandon Presser|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At an underground party, Joyce introduced Peggy to her friend Abe Drexler (Charlie Hofheimer), a beatnik journalist.
‘Mad Men’ Premiere: Before Season 5, Let's Remember Season 4|Jace Lacob|March 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
That was the only place in town, as I understood, from the reports, outside of the beatnik place they could.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
He was far, far different than the laughing, beatnik jabbering, youngster he had always seemed.
Black Man's Burden|Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for beatnik

beatnik

/ (ˈbiːtnɪk) /

noun

a member of the Beat Generation (sense 1)

informal any person with long hair and shabby clothes

Word Origin for beatnik

C20: from beat (n) + -nik, by analogy with Sputnik

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012