Internet
hedgies
What does hedgies mean?
A belittling nickname for hedge funds and the managers who run them, cast as the villainous 'smart money' establishment that retail apes are fighting.
"The hedgies are crying again — hold the line."
Origin
Retail-trader slang amplified on r/WallStreetBets during the 2021 short squeeze, framing hedge funds as adversaries.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'hedgies' mean?
It's a dismissive nickname for hedge funds and the managers who run them, used by retail traders who cast them as the villainous establishment they're battling.
Why do retail traders call them 'hedgies'?
The diminutive is deliberately belittling — it strips the intimidating 'smart money' of its prestige and frames hedge funds as adversaries, especially popularized during the 2021 GameStop short squeeze.
Is 'hedgies' an insult?
It's mocking rather than a hard insult. It carries a clear us-versus-them, anti-establishment tone, treating hedge funds as the opposing team in the meme-stock saga.
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