What does hippish mean?
Hippish is an informal adjective meaning suggestive of a hippie or of the counterculture associated with the 1960s. It may describe a person's clothing, appearance, tastes, music, or general manner, as in “a hippish outfit” or “a hippish attitude.” The word is more often suggestive than precise: it identifies a particular cultural style without necessarily implying that the person described is a hippie. Its tone can range from affectionate and nostalgic to mildly mocking, depending on the speaker and context. Because hippish is less common than hippie and hip, it often carries a slightly dated or humorous quality. It remains useful for describing appearances and cultural references rooted in the era of peace symbols, psychedelic design, folk music, communal living, and opposition to established social conventions.
adjectiveResembling or characteristic of a hippie, especially in style, manner, or interest in unconventional or countercultural ideas. The word is informal and relatively uncommon.
- Resembling a hippie in appearance, style, or manner.
- Characteristic of the ideas, tastes, or culture associated with hippies.
"The band's hippish clothes and psychedelic sound recalled the heyday of the counterculture."
"She wore a flowered dress and long fringed jacket, giving herself a deliberately hippish appearance."
"The record combines folk instrumentation with a distinctly hippish emphasis on peace and communal living."
Hippish captures a distinctive 1960s countercultural style, but it describes the look and mood rather than identifying someone as a hippie.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hippish come from?
Hippish was formed in the mid-20th century by adding the suffix -ish to hippie, the name for a person associated with the 1960s counterculture. Hippie itself is an alteration of hippy, whose ultimate origin is uncertain but is commonly associated with jazz slang for being fashionable, knowledgeable, or musically aware. The development of hippie reflects the 1960s use of hip in a broader cultural sense, and hippish continued that lineage by describing characteristic hippie style or behaviour.
Related word forms
How hippish is actually used
This is an informal, dated, and relatively uncommon word. It can sound gently humorous or mildly critical, depending on context, and is more typical of British and American English from the late 20th century than of contemporary formal usage.
Easily confused with hippish
A hippie is a person associated with the 1960s counterculture, whereas hippish is an adjective describing characteristic style, appearance, or behaviour.
Hip means fashionable, stylish, or aware of current trends, while hippish more specifically evokes the conventions of hippie culture.