: a person who participated in a social movement of the 1950s and early 1960s which stressed artistic self-expression and the rejection of the mores of conventional society
broadly
: a usually young and artistic person who rejects the mores of conventional society
Examples of beatnik in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliette Gréco: the original beatnik chick, from before there were even beatniks.
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Bart Bull, SPIN, 20 June 2023
In the background looms Argentina’s dark years—a period of countless disappearances, which fell between the beatnik heyday of the Melancholical Forgers, Inc., and the moment in the late Eighties when Enriqueta last saw Renée.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Mar. 2022
The series starred Martin Milner’s college dropout Tod Stiles and Maharis’s Buz, a moody working-class beatnik inspired by Jack Kerouac.
—Vulture, 28 May 2023
The café boasted the city’s first espresso machine and catered to the beatnik scene.
—oregonlive, 23 Mar. 2023
According to his son, Crump was a beatnik with a reputation as a rebel among the Disney fold.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2023
Crump was known for his eccentric beatnik style and pop art approach, which was evident in his personal art projects, such as a series of posters celebrating drugs.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 13 Mar. 2023
It’s as though this is some leftover reaction to the beatnik and hippie movements of the 1950s and ‘60s.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022
Everybody in the audience wants to see the English guitar band, and here's this kind of beatnik-looking guy from New Jersey.
—Sam Gillette, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2022
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Bart Bull, SPIN, 20 June 2023
In the background looms Argentina’s dark years—a period of countless disappearances, which fell between the beatnik heyday of the Melancholical Forgers, Inc., and the moment in the late Eighties when Enriqueta last saw Renée.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Mar. 2022
The series starred Martin Milner’s college dropout Tod Stiles and Maharis’s Buz, a moody working-class beatnik inspired by Jack Kerouac.
—Vulture, 28 May 2023
The café boasted the city’s first espresso machine and catered to the beatnik scene.
—oregonlive, 23 Mar. 2023
According to his son, Crump was a beatnik with a reputation as a rebel among the Disney fold.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2023
Crump was known for his eccentric beatnik style and pop art approach, which was evident in his personal art projects, such as a series of posters celebrating drugs.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 13 Mar. 2023
It’s as though this is some leftover reaction to the beatnik and hippie movements of the 1950s and ‘60s.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022
Everybody in the audience wants to see the English guitar band, and here's this kind of beatnik-looking guy from New Jersey.
—Sam Gillette, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beatnik.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1958, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near beatnik
Cite this Entry
“Beatnik.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beatnik. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beatnik
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