normcore

American  

[nawrm-kawr] / ˈnɔrmˌkɔr /

noun

1. 1. a fashion style or way of dressing characterized by ordinary, plain clothing with no designer names, often a reaction against trendy fashion.

   2. clothes that conform to this style.

      I wear normcore on weekends—usually a t-shirt and jeans.

2. 1. a subculture that embraces things that are simple, ordinary, or mainstream, or that do not stand out as being trendy.

      Normcore moves away from being cool and opts for a lack of individuality.

   2. things that conform to this value system.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to a fashion style characterized by ordinary, plain clothing.

   She’s definitely a normcore dresser.

2. noting or relating to things that are simple, ordinary, or mainstream: the best normcore neighborhoods to buy an average home.

   normcore food like my mom’s meatloaf;

   the best normcore neighborhoods to buy an average home.

Etymology

Origin of normcore

First recorded in 2005–10; from norm “a standard; average level,” or norm(al) “conforming to a standard” + core ¹ “essential part,” or -core “rebellious, antimainstream”

Example Sentences

Wilson: Coming out of hair bands into grunge, it just hit perfectly — like, oh, we’re normcore.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2024

The normcore range also includes an MS Paint T-shirt that mimics the original color palette of the app and a “Hardwear” hat with Microsoft’s 1990s logo colorings.

From The Verge • Jul. 12, 2022

Despite the global appeal of “Squid Game,” the ubiquitous, normcore outfits function as a commentary on the nation’s social classes, politics and history.

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2021

Until the present cores, normcore was the best known.

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2021

You’ve found a great family for her to interact with—very normcore, very reserved—and she’ll need to give her best performance alongside them to be “cast.”

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2021