GAMMON

What Does Gammon Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

Gammon means "Reactionary White Man."

More Observations...

In the UK, "gammon" is often used as a slang term to describe a certain type of middle-aged or older white man who is perceived to be conservative, reactionary, and often racist or xenophobic in their political views. The term "gammon" originated in the early 2000s and is thought to be derived from the pinkish hue of cooked gammon, which is similar to the reddish complexion that some middle-aged men develop as they age. The term has been criticized for being a form of classism and ageism, and for unfairly stereotyping a particular demographic. It's worth noting that not all middle-aged or older white men in the UK hold conservative or reactionary views, just as not all boomers in the US hold such views.

Image for Gammon

When I write Gammon, I mean this:

"Reactionary White Man"

Summary of Key Points

"Reactionary White Man" is, by far, the most common meaning for Gammon when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

Gammon
Definition:	Reactionary White Man
Type:	Word
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at GAMMON

Gammon is is a neologism. A neologism is a newly coined word or phrase that has recently come into use or has been created to describe a new concept, idea, or phenomenon. Neologisms can be created in any language and can take different forms, such as:

A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., mood, sick, tweet, gammon).
A completely new word (e.g., fomo, selfie, emoji).
A new combination of existing words, or words with prefixes or suffixes (e.g., soyboy, digital detox, situationship, oversharers, antifragile).

Neologisms are often the result of changes in technology, culture, or social norms, and they can be found in fields such as science, technology, politics, and popular culture. Some neologisms become widely used and enter mainstream vocabulary, while others remain obscure or limited to specific communities or contexts.