radical chic

[ rad-i-kuhl sheek ]

noun

1. the patronage of extremists or left-wing radicals by rich or famous people, as through invitations to social functions or public expressions of support.

Other Words From

• rad·i·cal-chic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of radical chic¹

Coined in 1970 by Tom Wolfe (1931–2018), American journalist, in an essay “Radical Chic: That Party at Lenny's”

Example Sentences

But Brooke was out of step with the New Left and its notion of radical chic.

From The Daily Beast