dank
Excellent, unusually good, or appealingly strange, especially in meme culture.
By Cal Hewitt, Founder at Web Leveling · Researched from public sources ·
What it actually means
The older literal meaning is damp and musty. In internet use, “dank” can praise a meme for being especially funny, weird, or niche.
See the quick definition in the dank dictionary entry.
Where it came from
The positive slang sense developed from earlier cannabis-related use and spread through online meme culture. A single coiner is not established.
No single person is credited, the origin is commonly reported.
Where it's popular
Most associated with cannabis culture, forums, and meme communities. This is a community and platform description, not a claim about national usage rates.
Online slang shifts quickly across platforms and age groups.
How it caught on
- Before current online useThe relevant base word or phrase existed in English or informal speech; the supplied source is the starting point for its documented meaning.
- Internet circulationThe form became recognizable in cannabis culture, forums, and meme communities; no precise first-post date is asserted without a verifiable primary record.
- Current useIt remains context-dependent and is commonly encountered in informal writing, memes, captions, or conversation.
How to use it
““That is so dank.””
A casual example showing the term in an informal sentence.
““I get what you mean, but calling it dank depends on the context.””
A careful example that does not assume a fixed tone.
““They used dank jokingly in the group chat.””
An example of online casual use.
Common mix-ups
It does not have one universal tone or meaning in every community.
Do you actually know it?
Do you actually know “dank”?
0/31. Which is the safest plain-English summary of “dank”?
2. What is the most responsible way to handle the origin of “dank”?
3. Where is this kind of slang most likely to appear?
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does “dank” mean?
Excellent, unusually good, or appealingly strange, especially in meme culture.
Is “dank” always an insult?
No. Tone, relationship, and platform can make the same term teasing, neutral, approving, or critical.
Who coined “dank”?
A single reliable coiner is not established in the sources used for this brief.
Can I use “dank” in formal writing?
Usually no. Use a plain-English equivalent unless you are quoting or explaining slang.
The spelling and tone of “dank” can carry as much social meaning as its dictionary definition.