# hipster

/ˈhɪpstɝ/ (US) · /hˈɪpstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hipster
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. modern trend-follower

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who follows the latest trends and styles, often preferring things that are not popular with the general public.

For teachers: a person who follows non-mainstream trends, typically associated with independent music, vintage fashion, and an interest in artisanal or alternative lifestyles.

- The neighborhood is full of hipsters who spend their weekends at organic coffee shops and vinyl record stores.
- The rapid gentrification of the district was driven largely by hipsters seeking affordable studio spaces and a more authentic, non-corporate urban environment.

Teaching tip: In modern usage, this term is often used with a slightly negative or mocking tone to describe people who try too hard to be cool or unique.

### 2. 1940s jazz fan

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · American English

a person in the 1940s who loved jazz music and followed the cool, alternative lifestyle of that time.

For teachers: a member of the 1940s subculture characterized by an interest in jazz, bebop, and a lifestyle that rejected conventional middle-class values.

- In the 1940s, a hipster was someone who knew all the best underground jazz clubs.
- The original hipsters of the mid-twentieth century were defined by their adoption of African American jazz culture and their detached, cool social attitude.

Teaching tip: This is the historical root of the word; modern students will rarely encounter it except in literature or history books about the Beat Generation.

### 3. to act like a hipster

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to behave or dress in a way that follows hipster trends.

For teachers: to adopt the behaviors, clothing styles, or aesthetic preferences associated with hipster subculture.

- He started to hipster his apartment with vintage furniture and old film posters.
- The brand attempted to hipster its image by collaborating with independent artists and using retro-style packaging.

Usage: The verb is often used intransitively or with a direct object representing a space or style.

Teaching tip: Using 'hipster' as a verb is much less common than the noun and is usually found in very casual or creative writing.

## Examples

- The local hipster café only serves organic, hand-roasted coffee.
- He started dressing like a hipster, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and flannel shirts even in the middle of summer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.