hippie
C1Informal, historical
Definition
Meaning
A person, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, who rejects conventional societal norms and values, often advocating peace, love, personal freedom, and environmentalism.
A member of a countercultural movement originating in the 1960s, characterized by long hair, colourful or unconventional dress (like tie-dye and bell-bottom jeans), often associated with psychedelic music, communal living, vegetarianism, and experimentation with drugs. In modern use, it can refer to someone with similar lifestyle values, interests in alternative spirituality, or non-conformist aesthetics.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is strongly tied to a specific historical era but can be used descriptively or pejoratively for people with similar values today. It often carries connotations of idealism, naivety, or a laid-back lifestyle. The variant spelling 'hippy' is also common, especially in British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'hippy' is more common in UK English, while 'hippie' is the dominant form in US English. The historical movement was more strongly associated with US culture (San Francisco, Woodstock).
Connotations
In both, it primarily refers to the 1960s counterculture. It can sometimes be used dismissively to imply impractical idealism or scruffiness. The term is slightly more neutral/descriptive in US English, where the cultural memory is stronger.
Frequency
The word is more frequently encountered in historical, cultural, or nostalgic contexts. Its frequency is comparable, but the referent is more culturally central in American history.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/become/act like] a ~a ~ from (the sixties/San Francisco)a ~ with (long hair/ideals)the ~ movement/culture/eraVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Turn on, tune in, drop out (associated phrase)”
- “Make love, not war (associated slogan)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically to describe unconventional or anti-corporate business styles (e.g., 'a tech company with a hippie ethos').
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies to describe the 1960s counterculture movement and its participants.
Everyday
Common in nostalgic, descriptive, or humorous conversation to refer to someone's past or current unconventional style/lifestyle.
Technical
Not a technical term; used informally in subcultural studies or music history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'To hippy it up' means to adopt a hippie style for a while, often for a fancy-dress party.
- After university, he decided to hippy out and travel to India.
American English
- She's been hippying around the country in a van for a year.
- They hippied up their apartment with tapestries and incense.
adverb
British English
- They lived quite hippily, growing their own food and making their own clothes. (Rare, often phrased as 'in a hippy way')
American English
- She dresses very hippie, always in flowing skirts. (Adverbial use of adjective form is common)
adjective
British English
- She has a very hippy style, with all that tie-dye and embroidery.
- It was a hippy commune, completely off the grid.
American English
- The store sells hippie clothes and records.
- He's got a real hippie mentality about corporate jobs.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather was a hippie when he was young.
- She wears colourful clothes like a hippie.
- The festival had a real hippie vibe, with people dancing and playing guitars.
- Many hippies in the 60s protested against the war.
- Although often dismissed as naive, the hippie movement significantly influenced environmental awareness and social attitudes.
- He's an aging hippie who still believes in the power of communal living and peace.
- The documentary deconstructs the romanticised image of the hippie, exploring the movement's internal contradictions and its complex legacy on modern liberalism.
- Her philosophy is a syncretic blend of hippie idealism, Eastern spirituality, and pragmatic eco-activism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIPpie: Think of someone sitting on a HIP, relaxed, with long hair, listening to HIP (cool) music.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HIPPIE IS A FREE-SPIRITED TRAVELLER (on the road of life, not bound by society's maps). A HIPPIE IS A CHILD OF NATURE (innocent, pure, connected to the earth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'хипстер' (hipster). Hipsters are a different, more modern subculture focused on indie culture and curated style.
- The Russian 'хиппи' is a direct borrowing and is accurate. Avoid using 'богема' (bohemian) as a perfect synonym, as it's broader and less historically specific.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'hippie' with 'hipster'.
- Using 'hippie' as a synonym for any person with long hair or who is dirty.
- Using the term in overly formal contexts where 'countercultural activist' or 'nonconformist' might be more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of the classic 'hippie' stereotype?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be neutral, descriptive, or slightly pejorative depending on context and tone. It is informal. Calling someone a 'dirty hippie' is negative, while saying they have 'hippie values' might be neutral or positive.
Hippies are associated with the 1960s-70s counterculture (peace, love, psychedelia, anti-establishment). Hipsters are a 21st-century urban subculture focused on indie music, irony, vintage aesthetics, and curated consumption. Their values and aesthetics are distinct.
Yes, informally (e.g., 'hippie clothes', 'hippie commune'). It functions as a noun modifier or a descriptive adjective.
The original historical movement has faded, but the term is used for people who adopt similar lifestyles, values (peace, environmentalism, alternative spirituality), or aesthetics. Modern equivalents might be called 'bohemians', 'New Agers', or 'rainbow gathering' attendees.
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