Music
def
What does def mean?
Excellent, cool, or the very best, used as strong approval.
"That new track is def, I've had it on repeat all week."
Origin
A late-70s and 80s hip-hop term for excellent, possibly derived from 'death' as ultimate praise or from Jamaican patois; it was cemented in the culture by Russell Simmons' Def Jam label.
Frequently asked questions
What does def mean in slang?
It means excellent, cool, or the best, used as a high compliment in 80s hip-hop culture.
Where did def come from?
From late-70s and 80s hip-hop slang; theories trace it to 'death' as superlative praise or to Jamaican patois, and Def Jam Records made it iconic.
Is def related to deaf?
No, despite the sound; 'def' meaning excellent is a separate slang word with its own history in hip-hop.
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