Definition

Noun: A term, primarily historical, referring to members of a youth subculture, also known as "hippies," that emerged prominently in San Francisco during the 1960s. They were characterized by their advocacy for universal love, peace, and communal living, often adopting distinctive styles such as long hair and the use of "soft" psychedelic drugs. Their cultural preferences included psychedelic ("acid") rock and progressive rock music.

Usage Examples

• The flower people gathered in Golden Gate Park to celebrate the Summer of Love.
• My grandparents sometimes tell stories about the flower people and their ideals of peace.
• The fashion and music of the flower people had a significant impact on popular culture.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a historical or sociological context to describe a specific cultural movement.
• It can carry connotations of idealism, nonconformity, and a rejection of mainstream societal values of the time.

Variants and Related Words

• Hippie/Hippy (n.): The more common and general synonym for a member of this subculture.
• Flower child (n.): A synonymous term, often used to refer to an individual within the movement, sometimes with a slightly more gentle or innocent connotation.
• Counterculture (n.): The broader cultural movement to which the flower people belonged.

Synonyms

• Hippies
• The love generation

Related Idioms & Phrases

• Flower power: A slogan and concept closely associated with the flower people, symbolizing passive resistance and ideological change through peace and love.
  • The protesters carried signs promoting flower power.

Noun

1. a youth subculture (mostly from the middle class) originating in San Francisco in the 1960s; advocated universal love and peace and communes and long hair and soft drugs; favored acid rock and progressive rock music