Definition

Noun: 1. Members of a countercultural movement: Refers to people, particularly young adults, who were part of a specific social and cultural movement originating in the United States during the 1960s. They are characterized by their rejection of conventional social norms and values. 2. Adherents of specific ideals: Denotes individuals who advocated for peace, love, personal freedom, and often experimented with alternative lifestyles, including communal living.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hippies gathered in the park to protest the war.
  • My parents were hippies in the 1970s and lived on a commune.
  • The festival had a vibe that reminded everyone of the hippies and their culture.

Advanced Usage

• "the hippies": Used with the definite article to refer to the group as a collective historical phenomenon.
  • The music of the late 1960s was deeply influenced by the hippies.
• "aging hippies": A term sometimes used to describe former members of the movement in their later years.
  • The town is popular with aging hippies who still value a simple lifestyle.

Variants and Related Words

• Hippie (noun): The singular form for one member of this group.
  • He was a true hippie, always talking about peace and love.
• Hippiedom (noun): The realm or world of hippies; the hippie movement collectively.
• Hippy (noun): An alternative, less common spelling of "hippie."

Synonyms

• Flower children: A poetic synonym emphasizing the hippies' association with peace and flowers.
• Bohemians: A broader term for people who live unconventional lives, often in artistic communities. (Note: This is a related but not exact synonym, as it is not specific to the 1960s movement.)
• Nonconformists: A general term for those who reject established customs and attitudes.

Related Phrases

• "Turn on, tune in, drop out": A famous phrase associated with the hippie ethos, encouraging psychedelic experience, cultural engagement, and withdrawal from conventional society.
• "Make love, not war": A central anti-war slogan of the hippie movement.

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