hipster

¹ American  

[hip-ster] / ˈhɪp stər /

noun

Slang.

1. a usually young person who is trendy, stylish, or progressive in an unconventional way; someone who is hip.

2. a person, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by a particularly strong sense of alienation from most established social activities and relationships; a beatnik or hippie.

3. a performer or admirer of jazz, especially swing; a hepcat.

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hipster ² American  

[hip-ster] / ˈhɪp stər /

noun

1. Chiefly British. hipsters, hiphuggers.

2. Often hipsters hiphugger underpants for women and girls.

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hipster British  

/ ˈhɪpstə /

noun

1. slang

   1. an enthusiast of modern jazz

   2. an outmoded word for hippy 1

2. (modifier) (of trousers) cut so that the top encircles the hips

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Other Word Forms

• hipsterish
  adjective
• hipsterism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hipster¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; hip ⁴ + -ster

Origin of hipster²

First recorded in 1960–65; hip ¹ + -ster

Explanation

A hipster is someone whose fashion choices and music interests fall outside the mainstream. Instead of following popular trends, hipsters generally favor alternative lifestyles, progressive politics, and quirky clothing. The meaning of the word hipster has evolved since it was coined in the early 1940s to describe jazz musicians and fans, from the jazz slang term hep, "up to date." In the 1960s, hipster mainly referred to low-slung, hip-hugging pants, but by the 1990s it described an urban subculture made up mostly of young and educated bohemian types living in gentrified neighborhoods.

Example Sentences

Despite the threat, during the day the vibe remains laid-back in a city known for the cultivated cool of its hipster atmosphere.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

“We have the hipster country crowd and we love them, because they spend money,” said owner Frank Faillace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

The latest hipster destination is Canggu, a once sleepy fishing village that has become a magnet for surfers from around the world.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

While the film has a techno-fantasy bent, Kogonada’s style is too self-consciously bespoke, the cinematic equivalent of a hipster carrying around their old iPod in a hand-carved wooden case.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

Braying laughter punctuated the comment as the hipster Indian guy went walking by, joined by the goateed white guy Celia was paired with, who was high-fiving him.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon