Standard Lemma guide

youthquake

noun · 1 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

noun

Meaning 1

A noticeable shift in society or culture in response to the activities or tastes of younger members of the culture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From youth + quake, by analogy with earthquake. Coined by American magazine editor Diana Vreeland in 1965.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 青年震盪 /青年震荡 (qīngnián zhèndàng) — shift in response to younger members of a culture
  • Dutch: jeugdbeving — shift in response to younger members of a culture
  • Finnish: nuorisojäristys — shift in response to younger members of a culture