Definition of hipster

The term "hipster" originated in the 1940s in the United States, particularly in the cities of New York and Paris. It was used to describe aspects of a bohemian subculture that emerged among youth, characterized by an interest in jazz music, poetry, and exotic cultures. The term was coined by American journalist and saxophonist, Frederic Ramsey, who wrote about a "hip" crowd of young people in his 1944 article "The Hippest Place in Town" for the magazine DownBeat. Initially, the term referred to the jazz scene and the people who attended clubs and listened to improvisational music. Later, it evolved to encompass a broader counterculture movement, encompassing fashion, art, and lifestyle. In the 1950s and 1960s, the term "hipster" became synonymous with the Beat Generation, characterized by nonconformity, free-spiritedness, and a rejection of mainstream values.