In Australia, "woke" means being alert to social injustices like racial discrimination, but it's also widely used negatively by critics (especially in media/politics) to label things seen as excessive political correctness, censorship, or "virtue signaling" on issues like gender, climate change, or cultural changes (e.g., renaming buildings). While its original meaning is positive awareness, Australians often find it confusing, with many either unfamiliar with it or embracing the positive definition, despite its frequent use as a pejorative term for progressive ideas.
"Woke" originally meant being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination, rooted in Black culture, but has evolved into a contested term, seen by supporters as being socially conscious and aware of systemic injustice, while critics use it pejoratively to label progressive ideas as overly sensitive or politically correct, making it a flashpoint in "culture wars".
Woke is an adjective derived from African-American English used since the 1930s or earlier to refer to awareness of racial prejudice and discrimination, often in the construction stay woke. The term acquired political connotations by the 1970s and gained further popularity in the 2010s with the hashtag #staywoke.
Synonyms for "woke" depend on its meaning: as the past tense of "wake," it means awakened, roused, stirred, or awoke; in its modern slang sense (alert to injustice), synonyms include enlightened, aware, conscious, socially conscious, progressive, politically correct, or sensitive, while the term's usage varies by political context.
Tracing the history of 'woke' Last Updated: 19 May 2025. What to Know. Woke is now defined in this dictionary as “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice),” and identified as U.S. slang.
The term woke has been used by conservative figures as pejorative term to describe the following social justice initiatives: LGBTQ rights: A movement advocating for the equal treatment and elimination of discriminatory policies hurting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, according to Britannica.
Gen Z is also (arguably) one of the most “woke” generations since the New Left of the 1960s and 1970s. Many members are outspoken advocates of social injustice, and are interested in topics including racism, homophobia, misogyny, poverty and climate change.
Woke as a term has been around since at least the 1930's, it meant for a black person to realise the abuse and suffering they were facing at the hands of their oppressors. So, literally, the opposite of woke is someone who is ignorant to racism.
“Woke” refers to being aware of the society around you and speaking up for needed change or against perceived injustice. The word suggests someone who has been oblivious to social issues, but then awakens to see the world differently.
The term “woke” means to be aware. It is the opposite of slumber and suggests a person is consciously aware of their role, its influence on others, and the associated societal climate.
Woke means you care about the well-being of all people — regardless of their race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. The human in me sees the human in you. Woke means that you do not believe that you are better than any other person and what you deserve, they deserve too.
Dark Woke represents a departure from traditional Democratic Party communication strategies, emphasizing disinhibited messaging and direct confrontation rather than conventional political decorum.
WON, WONE verb intransitive [G.] To dwell; to abide. Obsolete. Its participle is retained in wont, that is, woned.
For if being “woke” is to see clearly the suffering of the oppressed, to challenge the structures of injustice, and to embrace the call of compassion—then, indeed, Jesus of Nazareth was woke. And for that, the world both loved Him and sought to destroy Him.
The New Right coalesced as part of a backlash against the woke excesses of the recent past—but railing against wokeness is always faintly embarrassing. Republicans had called that a woke policy that hurts retirees' pockets. The causality works differently from what the woke adherents of diversity think.
Woke developed in African American English and has been used to describe a state of active attentiveness to issues of racial and social justice since the mid-late 20th century.
Synonyms for "woke" depend on its meaning: as the past tense of "wake," it means awakened, roused, stirred, or awoke; in its modern slang sense (alert to injustice), synonyms include enlightened, aware, conscious, socially conscious, progressive, politically correct, or sensitive, while the term's usage varies by political context.
“Woke” has become a complex term that for some means being aware of social justice issues, while for others, it means being obsessively politically correct and judgmental. In the United States, it's been weaponized against BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized groups.
To be "woke" politically in the Black community means that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality, Merriam-Webster Dictionary states.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP affirms the term "Woke" and its historical connection to Black history, Black liberation movements, and social justice. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP through its units encourages a historically accurate and correct use of the term "Woke" when its misuse is identified.
King did not use the term 'woke' explicitly, even though 'woke' had by then been recognized by the New York Times as one of the hip idioms in the Black vernacular (Kelley, 1962).
Other forms: woke up; waking up; waked up; wakes up; woken up
The generational gap of political positions could be due to the fact that today's youths grew up in different sociopolitical environments to their parents and grandparents - environments which make them more likely to go to university, correlating with socially liberal views on certain issues.
Understanding what it means to be “woke”
'Woke' is a term that originated within the African American culture. It refers to a state of heightened awareness and consciousness. It implies being actively informed about and sensitive to issues such as racism, sexism, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
Most Educated Generation: Gen Z has higher high school completion and college enrollment than previous generations. Yet they expect tangible returns, with 57% saying their college investment should pay off within five years. Most Diverse Generation: Gen Z is also the most racially and ethnically diverse generation.