Definition
Slang for bourgeois; someone perceived as pretentious, materialistic, or obsessed with upper-middle-class status symbols and consumption. Often used critically to describe affectations of luxury or refined taste that seem inauthentic or performative.
Example Usage
Her Instagram is so bougie—she posts about designer coffee and luxury vacation homes.
Origin
Abbreviated from 'bourgeois' (from French 'bourgeoisie,' the middle class), shortened and popularized in African-American vernacular English in the 1990s-2000s.
Fun Fact
Originally an insult within hip-hop culture, 'bougie' has been reclaimed and diluted in mainstream usage, sometimes used ironically or self-descriptively by those embracing luxury consumption.
Related Terms
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See “Bougie” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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