Hippy vs. Hippie — What's the Difference?

Advocates for peace and environmentalism.

Embraces a lifestyle opposing conventional norms.

Has a legacy in today's culture.

Stands for social, political, and environmental change.

Known for psychedelic drug use.

Identical to "hippy" – a member of the 60s counterculture.

Characterized by a distinct, colorful style.

Enjoys a revival in fashion and lifestyle.

A person associated with the 1960s counterculture movement.

Continues to inspire activism.

Variant of hippie.

A hippie, also spelled as hippy, is a member of the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The word hippie came from hipster and was used to describe beatniks who moved into New York City's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and Chicago's Old Town community.

Someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

(1950s slang) A teenager who imitated the beatniks.

Someone who dresses in a hippie style.

One who is hip.

Of or pertaining to hippies.

Not conforming to generally accepted standards.

Someone who rejects the established culture, dresses casually, and advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle. Used especially of those in the late 1960's, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, who conspicuously rejected traditional culture by dressing casually, if male wore their hair long, and wore folksy or used clothing adorned with beads, headbands, and often flowers; they emphasized the importance of love and direct personal relations rather than success-oriented businesslike behavior, strove for spontaneity, sometimes lived communally, and in some cases tried to expand their consciousness by various psychological techniques such as meditation, or through the use of consciousness-altering drugs such as marijuana or LSD. By the end of the Vietnam war in the 1970's, the numbers of people living a visibly hippie lifestyle had dramatically decreased, though some people continue to develop similar views and live with the same outlook.

Someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

Yes, "hippy" can be used, especially in personal or creative contexts, though "hippie" is more widely recognized.

"Hippie" is the preferred spelling due to its more widespread use in historical and cultural discussions about the movement.

Hippies stood for peace, love, freedom, environmentalism, and the exploration of alternative lifestyles, opposing mainstream societal norms.

Hippies were often seen as rebellious and counter to the mainstream, but their ideals have been increasingly appreciated and integrated into broader societal values.

A common misconception is that all hippies used drugs or were disengaged from society; many were deeply involved in political and environmental activism.

Hippies contributed to significant cultural and societal shifts, including movements for peace, environmental activism, and changes in fashion and music.

Hippies influenced fashion with their distinctive style featuring long hair, tie-dye, bell-bottoms, and handmade accessories, impacting mainstream fashion.

Yes, hippies were involved in significant political movements, especially those against war and in favor of civil rights and environmental protection.

Yes, the hippie ethos influences various modern subcultures and movements that advocate for similar values of peace, environmentalism, and social justice.

Music was central to the hippie movement, serving as a form of expression, protest, and community building, with festivals like Woodstock becoming iconic.

No, "hippy" and "hippie" refer to the same counterculture movement of the 1960s, with "hippie" being the more common spelling.

While diverse, hippie philosophy generally embraced peace, love, freedom, and the rejection of materialism and conventional societal structures.

The usage of "hippy" vs. "hippie" may vary regionally, but "hippie" is universally recognized and understood to represent the movement.

The hippie movement started in the early 1960s in the United States, largely as a reaction to conservative societal norms and the Vietnam War.

While the original hippie movement is historical, its values and cultural influences persist, inspiring contemporary movements and lifestyles.