In modern internet slang, Chad refers to a White male who is stereotypically masculine, sexually active, athletic, and gainfully employed. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The term is related to the alpha/beta male dichotomy. ^{[2] [4] [5] [6]} It originates from the 4chan message board, though it had previously been used locally in Chicago to refer to wealthy, athletic jocks from the city's northern suburbs.

The term "Chad" became a viral meme in the 2010s after appearing on the online message board 4chan under the name "Chad Thundercock". ^[2] Chad is described as a heterosexual White male, usually blond-haired, ^{[1] [7]} who is gainfully employed, athletic, sexually active, and well-endowed. ^[3]

Years before the term became popular online, it had been used locally in Chicago to refer to wealthy, athletic men from the city's northern suburbs. ^[8] In Chicago, the term was covered by a satirical website dedicated to the Lincoln Park Chad Society, a fictional social club based in the city's upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood. ^{[9] [10]}

The term has come into use in incel forums and as internet slang to refer to sexually active, genetically superior men, or " alpha males". ^[11] Within the manosphere and internet culture, Chads are generally viewed as constituting the top decile in terms of genetic fitness. ^[12] In online animation drawings in the manosphere, a Chad is further tagged with an explicit last name and is often depicted as a muscular blond man with very pronounced masculine features. One such depiction, in the "Virgin vs. Chad" internet meme that originated from the /r9k/ board on 4chan in 2017, contrasts an introverted and insecure "Virgin" who acts normal, compared to a muscular and egotistical "Chad" who acts absurdly and over the top. ^[13] Chads are sometimes portrayed as the opposite to "omega" or "beta" males, and as physically attractive. The term Chad is sometimes used interchangeably with "slayer". ^[14] Due to their characterization as being genetically gifted and privileged—though sometimes depicted as shallow, air-headed, arrogant, and overtly sexual ^[15]—the term Chad is used in both a pejorative and complimentary way on incel forums and on the internet as a whole. ^{[16] [17]}

The female counterpart to a Chad, in slang, is a " Stacy", ^{[18] [19] [20] [21]} or previously, the "Trixie". ^[22]

"Gigachad" is a related internet meme that uses black-and-white photographs of a muscular male model. It is used to assert one's opinion as correct, without providing evidence or reasoning. ^[23]

Listen to this article (3 minutes)

This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 11 September 2019 (2019-09-11), and does not reflect subsequent edits.

( Audio help · More spoken articles)

• "Lincoln Park Chad Society". Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.
• "Lincoln Park Trixie Society". Archived from the original on October 17, 2000.