What does "based" mean in slang?
10/20/25 5:25pm
View hidden comment
This post was sourced from submitted reader questions and posted by wikiHow Editorial Staff.
wikiHow forums are moderated for quality. Learn more about our moderation policy here.
The slang word "based" means being authentic and true to yourself, without caring about what others think. Members of Gen Z typically use this is a positive way, such as, "The way you stood up to that online troll was so based."
However, it didn't always mean that: the word originated with the 1980s term "basehead," which referred to people addicted to freebasing cocaine. "Based," then, described someone addicted to cocaine, but it was reclaimed by rapper Lil B, who used it in his 2007 album Based Boys and described it as "being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do."
The term was, unfortunately, later appropriated by alt-right online users as a term of praise that basically means "not 'woke,'" but it's still sometimes used by people who aren't a part of that group.
View hidden comment
However, it didn't always mean that: the word originated with the 1980s term "basehead," which referred to people addicted to freebasing cocaine. "Based," then, described someone addicted to cocaine, but it was reclaimed by rapper Lil B, who used it in his 2007 album Based Boys and described it as "being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do."
The term was, unfortunately, later appropriated by alt-right online users as a term of praise that basically means "not 'woke,'" but it's still sometimes used by people who aren't a part of that group.
What’s on your mind? Ask anything.
Get advice and feedback from experts and wikiHow readers just like you.
Ask a Question
