flower power: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Cultural, Informal
Quick answer
What does “flower power” mean?
A slogan and social movement of the 1960s counterculture, advocating non-violence, pacifism, and a harmonious, nature-oriented lifestyle, often symbolized by the wearing or giving of flowers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A slogan and social movement of the 1960s counterculture, advocating non-violence, pacifism, and a harmonious, nature-oriented lifestyle, often symbolized by the wearing or giving of flowers.
The ideals, aesthetic, and ethos associated with the hippie movement of the 1960s, emphasizing peace, love, and a rejection of materialism and conventional societal norms. By extension, it can refer to a nostalgic or revived use of the associated bright, psychedelic style and attitudes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in form and primary meaning in both varieties, originating from American counterculture but widely adopted in the UK.
Connotations
In both, it strongly connotes the 1960s, hippies, psychedelia, and anti-war sentiment. There is no significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used primarily in historical/cultural discussions or fashion/style contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “flower power” in a Sentence
[Verb] + flower power: embody, represent, revive, recall, celebrateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flower power” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The festival had a real flower-power feel to it.
- She wore a flower-power headband.
American English
- They decorated the van with flower-power graphics.
- It was a flower-power kind of protest.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except possibly in marketing for retro or vintage-themed products.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies texts discussing the 1960s counterculture.
Everyday
Used informally when discussing fashion, history, or cultural trends from the 1960s.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flower power”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flower power”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flower power”
- Using it as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'flower power movement' is correct; 'flower-power movement' is also acceptable). Treating it as a general term for gardening or floral strength.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not as an organized movement, but its aesthetics and ideals (peace, environmentalism) are periodically revived in fashion and culture and continue to influence various subcultures.
Yes, but usually descriptively or nostalgically. For example, a peaceful, music-focused environmental protest might be described as having a 'flower power vibe'.
It is standardly written as two words: 'flower power'. It is sometimes hyphenated when used as a compound modifier (e.g., flower-power generation).
'Hippie' refers to the people belonging to the counterculture. 'Flower power' refers specifically to their central pacifist ideology and its associated symbols and slogans.
A slogan and social movement of the 1960s counterculture, advocating non-violence, pacifism, and a harmonious, nature-oriented lifestyle, often symbolized by the wearing or giving of flowers.
Flower power is usually historical, cultural, informal in register.
Flower power: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊ.ə ˌpaʊ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊ.ɚ ˌpaʊ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It is itself an idiomatic expression.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a flower (a daisy) plugged into an electrical socket, powering a 'peace' sign instead of a light bulb. The flower has the power.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEALS ARE PLANTS (the movement grows, blossoms); PEACE IS A NATURAL FORCE (embodied by a gentle flower).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'flower power' be LEAST appropriate?