What does dissed mean?
Dissed is the past tense of the informal verb 'dis', which means to treat someone with disrespect or contempt, typically by insulting, mocking, or belittling them. The verb originated as a shortened form of 'disrespect' within hip-hop culture during the 1980s and has since spread into everyday informal speech across the English-speaking world. To say someone got dissed implies they were on the receiving end of a slight, a cutting remark, or a public put-down — often one intended to diminish their status or dignity. The word carries a distinctly colloquial, youthful register: it thrives in conversation, song lyrics, social media exchanges, and entertainment journalism about feuds between celebrities, but it would be out of place in formal writing. Its enduring popularity reflects how efficiently it captures a familiar social experience — the sting of being publicly shown up or dismissed.
verb (past tense and past participle of 'dis')Past tense and past participle of the informal verb 'dis', meaning to show disrespect or contempt for someone, especially by insulting or criticizing them.
- To have been insulted, disrespected, or treated with contempt.
- To have been criticized harshly or spoken of disparagingly.
"She felt dissed when her suggestion was dismissed without even a comment."
"He got dissed on stage in front of the whole crowd."
"The critics dissed the album, but fans loved it."
'Dis' was clipped straight out of 'disrespect' by hip-hop culture in the 1980s — so when you say someone got dissed, you're speaking a word that rap music built.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dissed
Dissed derives from 'dis', an abbreviation of 'disrespect' that emerged in African American Vernacular English and hip-hop culture in the United States during the early 1980s. The clipped form proved catchy and quickly entered mainstream informal vocabulary, spawning the full conjugation including 'dissed' and 'dissing'. Its root ultimately traces back through Latin 'dis-' (apart, away) combined with 'respect', from 'respicere' (to look back at), making 'disrespect' itself a relatively modern formation.
Related word forms
How dissed is actually used
Strongly informal and colloquial; common in speech, hip-hop culture, and casual writing. Avoid in formal contexts. Originally African American Vernacular English and hip-hop slang, now widespread among younger speakers in both British and American English.
Easily confused with dissed
'Dissed' means insulted or disrespected (informal), while a 'disc' is a flat circular object such as a CD or vinyl record.