Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

straight edge

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.56 in modern English

Syllables: straight edge
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

1

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs.

Uncountable

noun

One who follows this lifestyle.

Countable

noun

Alternative form of straightedge (“a tool to check for straightness”).

Countable

adj

Living one's life opposing or eschewing the use of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Informal

Etymology

The subculture takes the name from the 1981 song Straight Edge by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. Compare straight (“not using alcohol, drugs, etc.”) attested since 1904.

Usage

Inflected Forms

straight edges (plural) more straight edge (comparative) most straight edge (superlative)

Phrases

straight-edger clean teen

Frequently Paired Words

clean teen xVx bent edge curved edge break edge

Synonyms

sXe

Questions

What does straight edge mean?: A lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs.
Where does straight edge come from?: The subculture takes the name from the 1981 song Straight Edge by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. Compare straight (“not using alcohol, drugs, etc.”) attested since 1904.

How to pronounce straight edge

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