Cheugy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃuːɡi/

Definitions

1. A style or aesthetic, typically from the 2010s, characterized by millennial-targeted design elements such as pastel colors, geometric patterns, and mass-produced trendy items that quickly become dated and considered tacky
2. A cultural idea characterized by styles and trends from the 2010s that are now outdated or regarded as cliché, often involving common aesthetics and nostalgia for past fashions
3. A cultural trend denoting aesthetics that were once popular in the 2010s but are now viewed as cliché or outdated, often including mass-produced items and designs that lack originality

Etymology: Gaby Rasson, an American high school student, is credited with coining "cheugy" in 2013 to describe people who were slightly off trend. The word has no older history behind it. It was invented as slang and spread through the classmates who picked it up from her, so its origin is a single person's coinage rather than a borrowing or a change in an existing term. The word's sense then broadened from a label for people to a label for the aesthetic itself. The meaning now attached to it, the style associated with millennial-targeted design, such as pastel colors, geometric patterns and mass-produced trendy items, reflects how the term was applied to things that had gone out of fashion almost as soon as they became popular. Its appeal lies in that quick turnover, which is why it fits objects as easily as it fits people.

Synonyms: outdated, unfashionable, tacky, lame, corny

Antonyms: trendy, stylish, chic, fashionable, cool