circle jerk

noun

ˈsər-kəl-ˌjərk 

variants or less commonly circle-jerk or circlejerk

plural circle jerks also circle-jerks or circlejerks

1

informal + impolite : a situation or environment in which people congratulate one another uncritically for having the same opinions, tastes, etc.

… the conspiracy theory world is a big circle jerk of pseudo-academics.

—Joe Patrice

Hollywood giving itself awards for stories about itself is without question the world's glitziest circle jerk.

—Marlow Stern

… most documentaries about rock 'n' roll nowadays amount to little more than a circlejerk.

—Alan Zilberman

2

vulgar : a sexual activity in which a group of men or boys form a circle and masturbate

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined at sense 2