A term used by racist bigots who are angry to discover that they don't have personal ownership of a generally available product, style, or service.
Box braids on white people are cultural appropriation.
by Thystle April 26, 2021

The term appropriate technology is broadly used to mean a technology that is simple to use, culturally sensitive, adoptable to prevailing local conditions and cost effective. So that, whether in a small farm processing agricutural raw materials or in an office complex handling large volumes of commercial client, the technology that is adopted must meet the above criteria, so as to maximize input, promote efficiency and reduce cost.
by NdeiyaxyGh. December 04, 2010

Something that white people came up with because they have nothing better to complain about even though minorities like myself literally couldnt care less
Person: (wears something related to another culture)
White social justice warrior: OMG CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
Person from that culture: Oh that’s nice I like to see other people trying things from my culture in order to break the divide between our cultures
White social justice warrior: OMG CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
Person from that culture: Oh that’s nice I like to see other people trying things from my culture in order to break the divide between our cultures
by asianandverytired February 16, 2018

by Scott Zz September 21, 2006

The act of taking customs, practices, or traditions from one culture (usually by a member of a dominant culture) to either mock or simplify the meaning or significance of that piece of culture. Also, taking/wearing something from another culture and appreciating it only when it is not on the body of a member of that culture.
Examples/applications of cultural appropriation:
Giuliana Rancic: OMG Kylie Jenner's dreadlocks are so cool and edgy!!
Giuliana Rancic: OMG Zendaya must smell like weed and patchouli.
Any male or female that is NOT Native American wearing a Native American headdress because those headdresses are reserved for MALE elders after a religious ceremony; it's not just a cute hat.
Wearing bindis, dashikis, dreadlocks, saris, kilts, clogs, or any other type of clothing that is not native to your own culture without acknowledging the history these clothes come from or the oppression that some people who wear those clothes have to face because they are different from the majority culture in a specific country.
Giuliana Rancic: OMG Kylie Jenner's dreadlocks are so cool and edgy!!
Giuliana Rancic: OMG Zendaya must smell like weed and patchouli.
Any male or female that is NOT Native American wearing a Native American headdress because those headdresses are reserved for MALE elders after a religious ceremony; it's not just a cute hat.
Wearing bindis, dashikis, dreadlocks, saris, kilts, clogs, or any other type of clothing that is not native to your own culture without acknowledging the history these clothes come from or the oppression that some people who wear those clothes have to face because they are different from the majority culture in a specific country.
by epitome_of_grace November 03, 2015

When a person takes something with cultural significance from another culture for their own, but doesn't respect or understand the cultural significance the something has. Instead they only claim to 'like' the culture because of what they can gain from it.
Eg:
White kid 1: Ugh, Indians have such stupid customs and shit.
White kid 2: Yeah OMG!
Later
White kid 1: OMG Bindis are so cool! I love Indians! I'm all for Hindu or whateverr
Indian kid: wtf cultural appropriation much.
White kid 1: Ugh, Indians have such stupid customs and shit.
White kid 2: Yeah OMG!
Later
White kid 1: OMG Bindis are so cool! I love Indians! I'm all for Hindu or whateverr
Indian kid: wtf cultural appropriation much.
by seriously253 May 16, 2015

A one sided view which tries to hide the fact that the European white races invented just about everything that is of any use in the home or industry, all of which are readily available to and are used by black and brown people, but it is wrong to put a slice of Pineapple on a pizza and call it Hawaiian. This is a particularly hot topic amongst white hating white people that have been indoctrinated by left wing school or college teachers and have not gained any World experience yet.
A non PC use of cultural appropriation! would be; "Hey look, there is Beyonce with her lovely long, straight, blonde hair". Or "Look Leroy is using a knife and fork and wearing clothes".
by Borys Kickabollockoff September 03, 2018
