cosplay

Wearing a costume. Not exactly a new concept. The word, though, projects a new concept. It is a gen X/Y concept, related to "just saying". Gen X/Y hate to be held accountable for actions; they consider it an act of violence. So, they have language that says, "I'm doing this, but act like I'm not because that will make me feel better about doing it". "Just saying" means, "I'm going to make a point, but act like I didn't. That way I can have my say, but not have any negative consequences". Cosplay is the same idea. If we still said, "wearing a costume", one might well, and often, ask, "Why are you wearing a costume?" Hoy! "That's about me!" "Uh, uh, uh...I have to give a rationale for my behavior. I never do that! Can't we pretend it's not about me???" So we have cosplay, the activity takes on the responsibility for the actor. "Why are you doing that?" "Because it's cosplay!" If one responded "that's stupid", they can say, "Oh, you're not down with cosplay". If they had said, "I'm wearing a costume" and you said, "that's stupid", it would be about them. And they would feel bad. And never upsetting anyone is what we've taught our vermin so we can shove a few more into the same space without them killing each other.

"I'm wearing a costume because we're doing cosplay, duh!"

by Defender of the Aggedors August 1, 2014

cosplay

Short for 'Costume-play." More or less the act of dressing up as an anime oor video game character. Popular among anime fans and teenage Japanese girls.

"I want to have sex with Japanese girls who dress up as anime characters (cosplay)."

by DesPERRYado October 17, 2005

cosplay

Just plain queer. Excuse for effiminate men to wear dresses and put on makeup.

Cosplayers are best cured with soap and a Bible.

by Betterthanyouguy March 27, 2005

cosplay

Fancy Dress at a comic/anime/sci-fi convention. Labelled "cosplay" because the participants know exactly how stupid it is to be playing fancy dress-up games at their age, and calling it something else throws civillians of the track for a while.

Jake: Hey man, do you wanna dress up in wacky zany crazy fancy-dress attire at the next anime convention?

Jimmy: You mean like those stupid cosplay freaks?

Jake: yeah...

Jimmy: ...no

by benjiboy March 24, 2005

cosplay

When a 4/10 NEET (female or male) puts on clothes and makeup to look like a 7/10 and pretend to be an anime character for a day

Brandon: Wow I didn't knew there were so many good looking women at comic con!
Lucas: Nah fam, it's just cosplay, just wait till the wig falls off and the makeup washes away

by Desu pass eat owe December 3, 2018

cosplay

In Japan, "cosplay" or "costume play" seems to mean no more than "wearing a costume or something that looks like a costume". If somebody is walking around dolled-up or in a funny-looking outfit, everybody just calls them a cosplayer.

I have heard Japanese people refer to Visual kei artists as "cosplay pretty boys". And they are obviously not dressed up as anime characters.

Lolita fashion is originally NOT cosplay, but a legitimate fashion. Is Goth cosplay?

by Kuroloki July 1, 2006

cosplay

Short for "costume play", a practice in Japanese adult video and idol photobooks whereby a female dresses in costume for the purpose of acting out a sexual fantasy, with particular attention to erotic costumes made popular in anime. Cosplay is differentiated from roleplay in that there is no roleplaying or acting involved, merely visual imitation of anime fantasy characters.

This Japanese girl does cosplay on her DVD, dressing as maid, nurse, nun, schoolteacher, and gothic lolita. It's sick, bro. I'm watching it again tonight with your mom.

by 1337 d00d July 1, 2005