stoner
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈəʊnə/
US
- /ˈstoʊnər/
Description
- habitual cannabis user
- very relaxed person
- spacey person
- person seen as lazy
The word "stoner" usually refers to someone who often uses cannabis or seems to be under its influence. It brings to mind a person who is very relaxed, slow-moving, or a little spacey. In many cases, the word is casual and tied to cannabis culture, especially in movies, music, or everyday talk. But it can also be used in a negative way for someone seen as lazy or not very focused, even if that is just a stereotype. Context matters a lot.
The word "stoner" is a slang term for a person who frequently uses cannabis (marijuana), or for someone strongly associated with cannabis culture. The word comes from "stoned," the state of being high on the drug. In popular culture, especially from the 1960s onward, it became linked with a laid-back image: someone relaxed, slow, dreamy, and not too concerned with rules or schedules.
Over time, the word picked up a broader and sometimes negative sense. People may call someone a "stoner" not only because they use cannabis, but because they seem spacey, unfocused, or stereotypically lazy. That use is often unfair, since it turns a cultural image into a judgment about a person's character. In some contexts, though, people use the term about themselves or their friends in a light, joking, or identity-based way.
Because of that, tone and context are important. In casual conversation, media, or comedy, the word may sound harmless or playful. In other situations, it can sound dismissive or insulting, especially if it suggests that a person is irresponsible or incapable. The meaning is usually clear from context, but the core idea remains the same: a person linked to cannabis use, or to the relaxed, spacey stereotype that surrounds it.
So, while "stoner" began as a label for cannabis users, it now also carries a cultural image. Sometimes that image is affectionate, and sometimes it is critical. Understanding the speaker's tone is the best way to understand what they mean.
Examples
- 1
College past
He was a stoner in college and spent most evenings getting high.
- 2
Labeling someone
Her parents hate it when people call her a stoner.
Pattern
call someone a stoner
label them that way
- 3
Personal style
He has the laid-back style of a stoner, even though he rarely smokes now.
- 4
Social scene
The café used to attract artists, skaters, and a few local stoners.
- 5
Film genre
It's basically a stoner comedy with more jokes about weed than actual plot.
Phrase
stoner comedy
a comedy linked with cannabis culture
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- stonernounadjective
Forms
- stonerspluralnounadjective