What does Chad mean?
A stereotypical attractive, popular, and successful man
Detailed Explanation
'Chad' is an archetype, primarily from incel and manosphere subcultures, for a stereotypically attractive, confident, and sexually successful 'alpha male.' In its original context, the term was used with resentment by incels to describe the men they believed were effortlessly successful with women. The term has since been co-opted by mainstream meme culture, where it is often used ironically to praise someone who is confident and unapologetic, as in the 'Virgin vs. Chad' meme format.
Usage Examples
“In the incel worldview, all women want to date a 'Chad.'”
“He refused to elaborate on his statement and then left. What a Chad.”
“The Virgin walking vs. the Chad stride.”
Origin & History
The term originated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was popularized on incel forums in the 2010s as the name for the archetypal man who is the opposite of an incel. The 'Virgin vs. Chad' meme, which began on 4chan around 2016, brought the term into the mainstream, often in a satirical context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is being called a 'Chad' a compliment?
It's highly contextual. In its original incel context, it's a term of resentment. In modern meme culture, being called a 'Chad' is often an ironic compliment for displaying extreme, sometimes absurd, confidence.