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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.

Yet Aster diagnoses them, and everyone else, with a deadly case of social media brain rot.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 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

The term "brain rot" was used by some children surveyed to describe the feeling they were left with after spending too long on their devices.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Like "6-7", fans say its attraction lies in the fact that it can mean anything at all -- and has become a symbol of the "brain rot" content being consumed on social media.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

The meme is a prime example of brain rot, the internet junk food consumed by people of all ages to suck away time, productivity and the living of life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

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