boomer
/ˈbuː.mɚ/
Very CommonSomeone (usually older) who's out of touch with modern culture, tech, or attitudes.
Can be affectionate teasing or genuinely dismissive. 'OK boomer' is confrontational. Calling yourself a boomer is self-deprecating humor.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my mom just asked me how to copy and paste. she's such a boomer. | Mom struggles with very basic computer skills. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | I still use Facebook. I know, boomer behavior. | Acknowledging that Facebook is considered outdated by younger users. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | he said 'nobody wants to work anymore' lmao ok boomer | Dismissing a cliche complaint that older generations repeat. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | boomer humor is just 'I hate my wife' in different fonts | Older-generation comedy relies on the same tired tropes. | x, 2022 |
Use it when
- Someone struggles with basic technology.
- Someone expresses a very outdated opinion.
- Someone doesn't understand current internet culture.
- Joking about yourself for being behind on trends.
Do not use it when
- You actually mean baby boomers as a demographic in a serious discussion.Use “baby boomer” instead.
- You're being genuinely ageist toward older people.
- Someone just happens to be older but is perfectly tech-savvy.
Variations and related forms
Boomer vs zoomer
boomer
Boomer refers to someone out of touch or from an older generation.
VS
zoomer
Zoomer refers to Gen Z, the extremely online younger generation.
Origin and context
Derived from 'baby boomer' (the post-WWII generation). The slang usage took off around 2019 when 'OK boomer' went viral on TikTok and became a generational rallying cry. It shifted from meaning literally old to meaning culturally out of touch.
- First seen
- 2019
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/boomerUpdated: 2026-08-25License: CC BY 4.0