GOBLIN MODE

What Does Goblin Mode Mean?

The Quick Answer

Goblin mode means behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy.

More Detail...

The slang term goblin mode is used to refer to a type of behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations. For example:

I am doing nothing at all this weekend. I will be in total goblin mode until Monday.
Sam's not coming in today. She has a severe dose of goblin mode.

Goblin mode was first seen on social media in 2009. It went viral in 2022, especially on TikTok, where it is usually accompanied by a hashtag (#goblinmode). It was subsequently declared the Oxford word of the year for 2022.

Image for Goblin Mode

When I write Goblin Mode, I mean this:

In Goblin mode it's okay to be yourself!

Summary of Key Points

"Unapologetically Self-Indulgent, Lazy, Slovenly, or Greedy Behavior" is, by far, the most common meaning for Goblin Mode when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

Goblin Mode
Definition:	Unapologetically Self-Indulgent, Lazy, Slovenly, or Greedy Behavior
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

An Academic Look at Goblin Mode

Goblin mode is a neologism (i.e., a newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday use). A neologism can be:

A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., mood, sick, goblin).
A completely new word (e.g., oversharers).
A new combination of existing words (e.g., digital detox, goblin mode).

Some neologisms are formally accepted into mainstream language (at which point, they cease to be neologisms), and some wither until they can longer be considered everyday terms.