Becky (slang)

Becky is a female nickname for Rebecca (a name found in the Old Testament of the Bible). In some areas of popular culture, the name is a pejorative American slang term for a young white woman.[1] The term has come to be associated with a "white girl who loves Starbucks and Uggs"; for this reason, "Becky" is often associated with the slang term "basic", which has many similar connotations.[2]

In 2019, dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster wrote that "Becky" was "increasingly functioning as an epithet, and being used especially to refer to a white woman who is ignorant of both her privilege and her prejudice."[3] The term "Karen" has a similar connotation but is associated with older women.[4]

  1. ^ "What does Becky mean? Here's the history behind Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' lyric that sparked a firestorm". USA Today. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. ^ Tait, Amelia (24 January 2018). "Karen, Sharon, Becky, and Chad: How it feels when your name becomes a meme". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Words We're Watching: 'Becky'". Merriam Webster. 2019.
  4. ^ Tiffany, Kaitlin (6 May 2020). "How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain". The Atlantic.