Karen
noun | informal, slang
A term used to describe a person typically a white woman who is perceived as entitled, confrontational, or demanding, especially when attempting to police others’ behavior or assert social or institutional authority in public spaces.
By extension, anyone who exhibits behavior characterized by excessive complaints, unwarranted demands for special treatment, or invoking authority (e.g., “speaking to the manager”) to control situations that do not concern them.
Usage note: The term is often used critically to call out patterns of behavior rather than an individual’s actual name, and it commonly appears in discussions about social privilege, power dynamics, and public conduct.
