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based

A word used when you agree with something; or when you want to recognize someone for being themselves, i.e. courageous and unique or not caring what others think. Especially common in online political slang.

The opposite of cringe, some times the opposite of biased.

The latter usage is the original use as coined by rapper Lil B, and the word originally took off on the meta-ironic website 4Chan with the latter meaning. For that reason the word is largely used meta-ironically (without context you can't tell if it's being used ironically or sincerely as it's used in both ways) and was popularized in online political slang of conservatives and the political right before being adopted into mainstream online political slang (likely through shitposting websites or subreddits such as r/politicalcompass memes that are similar to 4chan in their meta-irony and "edginess" but contain a wider variety of political beliefs) and eventually adopted into general online vernacular.

When used in online political language it can mean "based in fact" or the opposite of biased due to the number of people who saw it being first used seriously by the online political right and came to the conclusion that is was related to the phrase "destroyed with facts and logic" in reference to right wing personality Ben Shapiro.
Example 1: meta-ironic

Shitposter: Posts gif of funny monkey Return to monke
Commentor: Based

Example 2: meta-ironic
4chan Anon 1: I'm going to commit hate crimes
4chan Anon 2: Based

Example 3: Politics
Leftist 1: There is no ethical consumption under capitalism.
Leftist 2: Based.
by leftistmonke November 25, 2020
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based

the 8 ball jacket slap is still the most based thing on the internet
by ianeaux September 17, 2020
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Based

Is when you dont care what people think
its a way of life
Doing what you want
how u want
wearing what u want
the LV book bag looks gay on you
idc im based
by Young Silence May 6, 2009
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Based

To be yourself regardless if you or your beliefs are or are not the most popular.
Steve: Man, even though I’m getting ratio’d on twitter, and I’m getting cancelled, I still ain’t gonna apologize to these snowflakes.

Jake: Based. Very, very based.
by yvngbasedlord September 28, 2020
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Based

A slang word that used to mean not caring about what other people think, but now pretty much just translates to “good”. Typically used when you agree with something.
I agree, that’s a really based opinion.
by Wittyusernamehaha May 4, 2022
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based

when someone is concerned with doing their own thing and/or spreading the truth, unconcerned about anyone's reaction.
despite western medias' and international organisations' outcries, based japan did XY.
by Severin_Bro January 12, 2022
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Based

1. The foundation of a story or reasoning ; the inspiration from
2. some weird ass gen z slang that means cool
1. The story was based off of a pirate that's not too known today.
2. Honestly man, playing Genshin is pretty fuckin' cringe. Halo kinda based though...
by KiddKraft November 22, 2021
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