Karen definition: what "Karen" means and examples

February 9, 2026

A pejorative term for an entitled or demanding woman who uses her privilege to get her way.

A Karen is the ultimate nightmare for retail and service workers. She is the person who asks for the manager over a tiny mistake. The term has evolved to describe anyone (usually an older woman) who is perceived as being overly critical, racist, or demanding. It is often used to mock people who "police" others' behaviour in public spaces.

Examples:

  1. "She started filming the teenagers in the park like a total Karen."
  2. "Don't be a Karen, it’s just a five-minute wait for a table."
  3. "The video of that Karen shouting in the supermarket went viral."

We've compiled this dictionary of common teen slang to help parents communicate with their kids. SafetyMode is the world's most advanced parental safety app for phones, making any Android phone safe for kids. You can find out more and download the app just here.

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