normcore

American  

[nawrm-kawr] / ˈnɔrmˌkɔr /

noun

1. 1. a fashion style or way of dressing characterized by ordinary, plain clothing with no designer names, often a reaction against trendy fashion.

   2. clothes that conform to this style.

      I wear normcore on weekends—usually a t-shirt and jeans.

2. 1. a subculture that embraces things that are simple, ordinary, or mainstream, or that do not stand out as being trendy.

      Normcore moves away from being cool and opts for a lack of individuality.

   2. things that conform to this value system.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to a fashion style characterized by ordinary, plain clothing.

   She’s definitely a normcore dresser.

2. noting or relating to things that are simple, ordinary, or mainstream: the best normcore neighborhoods to buy an average home.

   normcore food like my mom’s meatloaf;

   the best normcore neighborhoods to buy an average home.

Etymology

Origin of normcore

First recorded in 2005–10; from norm “a standard; average level,” or norm(al) “conforming to a standard” + core ¹ “essential part,” or -core “rebellious, antimainstream”

Example Sentences

“Hip-hop heads and normcore hikers and campers. Veganism is small, but it crosses all identities. It’s for anyone who truly champions equality, who realizes they have a chance to make a difference in real time.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024

The normcore range also includes an MS Paint T-shirt that mimics the original color palette of the app and a “Hardwear” hat with Microsoft’s 1990s logo colorings.

From The Verge • Jul. 12, 2022

And yet, artists and dealers need to make a living, hence the prevalence of painting and sellable crafts that knowingly copy the normcore aesthetic of thrift shops and folk art.

From New York Times • May 5, 2022

Until the present cores, normcore was the best known.

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2021

Both shows are built around sharp pop culture commentary, jokes delivered at breakneck speed, and a bedraggled normcore protagonist who’s doing her best against truly absurd odds .

From Slate • May 17, 2021