incel

American  

[in-sel] / ˈɪnˌsɛl /

noun

1. a member of an online subculture of men who want to have sex but are unable to find sexual partners, typically blaming women or hating people who are sexually successful (often used attributively).

   Perhaps unsurprisingly, contemplation and discussion of suicide features prominently on incel forums.

---

Etymology

Origin of incel

First recorded in 1990–95; earlier INVCEL, short for involuntarily celibate

Example Sentences

He has also participated in men’s organizations that, unfortunately, strike the wrong note with Mr. McCarthy, who believes they are associated with incel culture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The practice has deep roots in incel forums and the broader manosphere, where appearance is treated as destiny and social life is reduced to a brutal, pseudo-Darwinian hierarchy.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

The word incel crops up, as does American gun culture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

"There is a spectrum to looksmaxxing," explains Anda Solea, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth who has been studying how easily incel culture can seep into society.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

"It's quite easy to make a version of that story where he's a sort of toxic incel male conspiracy theorist nut who you don't really sympathize with," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026