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Aave Coined 2016

clapback

What does clapback mean?

A sharp, effective retort to an insult or criticism — a comeback delivered with force.

"Her clapback to the troll got more likes than his original comment."

Origin

Rooted in AAVE and hip-hop battle culture, mainstreamed through celebrity social-media exchanges.

Frequently asked questions

What does "clapback" mean?
A sharp, effective retort to an insult or criticism — a comeback delivered with force.
How do you use "clapback" in a sentence?
For example: "Her clapback to the troll got more likes than his original comment."
Where does "clapback" come from?
Rooted in AAVE and hip-hop battle culture, mainstreamed through celebrity social-media exchanges. It's generally dated to around 2016.
Is "clapback" AAVE (African-American Vernacular English)?
Yes — "clapback" is classed as AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) on FreeDict. A sharp, effective retort to an insult or criticism — a comeback delivered with force.
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Slang definitions: FreeDict original editorial.