Standard Lemma guide

deadass

adj · adv · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having very little activity; dead.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Genuine; real. Used as a negative intensifier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Dead serious.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You need to quit talking about my mama. I'm deadass.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

Directly; dead on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

Really; seriously; actually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • I was deadass starving.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A lazy or unenergetic person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From dead + -ass (“used to intensify an adjective”). Some senses from an ellipsis of dead serious + ass. Originated in New York City, and popularized around the late 1990s–2000s.