Sigma Slang Definition
“Sigma” often describes someone who’s a cool outsider. The word comes from the idea of a sigma male, which is someone who goes against the flow, or who plays by their own rules while still dominating the game. It’s a spin on alpha male theory, which is a theory that claims that some men are dominant “alphas.” According to the theory, alpha males are leaders of the “pack,” while sigma males are equals who do things their own way. Example: “He dresses however he wants and still gets dates. He’s a total sigma.” Example: “Brad might be the alpha of the group, but Chad is the sigma.”
“Sigma” is slang for “cool” or “best.” These days, sigma’s original definition has boiled down to simply mean that something is different, neat, or better than others, which is sort of like its original slang meaning about “sigma males.” Over time, the term morphed to be a more general, positive word that you can use to talk about pretty much anything. Example: “I aced that test without studying. I guess I’m just that sigma.” Example: “Your car is so sigma. It’s like the sickest car I’ve ever seen.”
Sigma is also often used ironically, or nonsensically. As the word found the mainstream and caught its fair share of parody and criticism, it’s also taken on an ironic or sometimes downright silly meaning, used both to make fun of the concept of “sigma males” and to make new and silly phrases for fun. Example: “That wasn’t very sigma of you.” Example: “Rizzing up the gyatt like a skibidi sigma!”
Using “Sigma”
Use “sigma” to describe someone or something that’s cool. Sigma means something like “cool,” but there’s a little extra flavor to it—it’s cool and different. Someone who’s a sigma is charismatic and a free thinker. Something that’s sigma is unusual and appealing. Example: “He always leaves the party so early because he’s such a sigma. He doesn’t care what people think.” Example: “I never study, but I always pass. Guess I’m just a sigma or something.”
Understand that “sigma” is often used as a joke. The truth is, many people who use the term “sigma” aren’t being 100% serious. Often, it’s associated with “brainrot,” which is when someone spends so much time online that their vocab and behavior becomes total nonsense. Other times, people use the term to make fun of the very concept of “alphas” or “sigmas.” Use the word with caution! Example: “Yeah dude, your raw beef diet is totally sigma. You’re doing great.” Example: “A sigma male when hot girls and jocks desperately want to be his friend and sit with him but he has to be a lone wolf.” Example: “Did you see that? Erm, what the sigma?”
History of “Sigma”
“Sigma” comes from some wacky ideas about men. The term was coined by far-right writer Vox Day back in 2010. Day said that “sigma males” are outsiders who don’t care about the “social game,” but who win it anyway. He used “sigma” as an alternative to “alpha male,” or the dominant or most popular male in the group. The concept of “alphas” is itself based on shoddy science on to wolves, and doesn’t actually have any scientific basis in either wolves or people. After, the concept of “sigma males” was adopted by popular “pickup artists” and masculinity influencers on YouTube, boosting its popularity.
Sigma entered the mainstream around 2021. Around then, Twitter/X user @LilySimpson1312 posted a few screenshot of sigma YouTube videos and expressed confusion and exasperation. The tweet went viral, rocketing “sigma” into the mainstream, when it began to appear elsewhere online, like in TikToks, where it’s been used both sincerely and ironically. Since, many different “sigma” memes have taken shape and spread, like the tongue-in-cheek “sigma grindset,” which parodies unhealthy productivity standards.
Other Gen Z & Gen Alpha Terms
Erm, what the sigma? This is used to show confusion. It started as a nonsensical riff on a catchphrase from the show Family Guy, in which the character Stewie Griffin often says “What the deuce?” Later, a Spongebob Squarepants clip surfaced in which the character Squidward appears to say “Erm… What the sigma?” and the phrase caught on. Example: “Did I hear you right? You want to do what? Erm… What the sigma?”
Brainrot Brainrot describes a general deterioration in vocabulary or even behavior as a result of too much social media. More casually, it’s used to describe a general type of online slang that borders on total insanity. Example: “I need to get off the internet, it’s giving me brainrot. I keep saying things like ‘skibidi rizzler.’ I don’t even know what that means.”
Rizz Rizz is short for “charisma,” and describes someone’s dating or flirting game or ability to charm other people. Example: “Of course I got his number, he couldn’t resist my rizz.”
Standing on business A phrase popularized by musical artist Drake, this means to keep your word, follow through, or make good on your intentions. Example: “It’s time to stand on business and show up for my friends.”
[Blank]-coded This is a slang suffix that’s used to mean that something gives off certain vibes or associations. Example: “My boyfriend is so silly and warm. He’s puppy-coded.”
Motion To “have motion” means to be productive or successful, or to earn money. It’s a versatile term that often means “to make moves.” Example: “Big things are happening for me right now. I got motion.”
Ohio memes Ohio memes are a genre of joke that pokes fun at Ohio by suggesting it’s a place where bizarre, apocalyptic, or surreal things happen. People often caption wild or incredible videos with “Only in Ohio.” Example: “They say a flying saucer touched down last night. Tch, only in Ohio…”
Skbidi This is a nonsense word that originated from a series of animated shorts on YouTube titled “Skibidi Toilet,” which feature heads emerging from toilets which plot world domination. It doesn’t mean anything in particular. Example: “Watch out, or the skibidi rizzler will get you!”
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