Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

brain rot

American  
[brayn raht] / ˈbreɪn ˌrɑt /

noun

Slang.
  1. a piece of media or a meme that is considered to have no functional or aesthetic value.

  2. mental or social degradation, usually from a perceived excess of social media consumption.


Other Word Forms

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Plus, a DIY solar hack, a country fights teen brain rot with free ChatGPT and Apple’s plans for a Siri-led AI comeback.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 7, 2026

“Stamptown” at the Montalbán was filmed as part of a Netflix special that will air later this year, which any lover of brain rot and pageantry should be sure to check out.

From Los Angeles Times May 13, 2026

He talks of the risk of "brain rot" - the idea that our constant exposure to social media is harming our intellectual abilities.

From BBC Feb. 2, 2026

The craze, which literally just involves saying “six-seven” and moving your hands up and down, is, however, a sign of Gen Alpha’s broader style of internet humor: brain rot.

From Slate Dec. 28, 2025

In subsequent years, voting has played only a part in the choices, which have included 2023's "rizz" -- a colloquial term defined as "style, charm, or attractiveness" -- and last year's "brain rot".

From Barron's Dec. 1, 2025

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training