Top definition
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
Get a based mug for your guy Julia.
Sep 9 Word of the Day
the thing that you don’t have when you’re phones percentage is over 20
phone: why don’t you go to sleep tommy it’s 2 in the morning?
tommy:why don’t you die you dumbazz
by lik_frls_dis.me February 12, 2020
Get the sleep neck gaiter and mug.
2
the 8 ball jacket slap is still the most based thing on the internet
by ianeaux September 17, 2020
Get a based mug for your friend José.
4
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 05, 2009
Get a Based mug for your mate Bob.
5
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
Get the Based neck gaiter and mug.
6
Agreement to a statement, often one of political ideology.
Comparable to the statement "This is good, I agree"
"Hey mabye billionaires shouldnt be a thing we let happen"
"Based"
by EndyStar January 11, 2021
Get a Based mug for your papa José.