Swag
Dead🦕AncientDefinition
Style, confidence, coolness. The defining slang word of 2011-2013. Preceded 'drip' as the go-to word for personal style. Said to mean 'Secretly We Are Gay' (it doesn't, that was a meme).
Translation for Parents
It meant having style and confidence. 'He's got swag' = 'he's cool and confident.' This was the word of the Obama era. If your kid is using it, they're 100% being ironic, or they're building a time capsule.
Examples
“He walked in with so much swag”
“He entered with a lot of confidence and style (said in 2012)”
“Swag is back??? Is it????”
“Is this word making a comeback? (It's not. Please stop asking.)”
Cringe Score
Grounds for emancipation
Swag is now old enough that some Gen Alpha kids use it unironically, which has created a bizarre time loop that scientists are still studying.
Category
compliment
Peak
2012-01
Last Verified
2026-02-25
Sources
editorial