The Woketionary
What is the Woketionary?
The Woketionary is here to help you! Has a teacher asked for your child’s “preferred pronoun”? Or told him he needs to become an anti-racist? Have you been told you are suffering from “implicit bias” or are living in a “systemically racist” country? Confused?
We were too!
What does the word “woke” mean, you ask? Well, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the slang word “woke,” is really the past tense “wake” and means to be awoken to and then actively attentive to important facts and issues surrounding racial and social justice. But really, the word “woke” is used by the left and by social justice warriors to imply superior knowledge and an ideologically “correct” belief system.
In this Woketionary, we’ve given you the “woke” definition followed by what the word is supposed to convey to those who don’t ascribe to the woke way of thinking. Still confused? Yeah, we are too!
1619 Project \ ˈsiks-ˌtēn – nīn-ˈtēn – ˈprä-ˌjekt \ noun:
Some say… The 1619 Project is a New York Times series of essays that challenge the heretofore accepted narrative that America was founded in 1776. The Project contends that the American founding dates to 1619, the year slaves first arrived in the colonies.
But really… The 1619 Project is an academically challenged attempt to repackage the United States as a congenitally and endemically racist country, the very founding of which was based on the desire to preserve slavery. The project ignores centuries of scholarship in an effort to convince Americans—particularly young Americans—to hate their country, their history, and their governing institutions. 
Anti-racism \ ˈan-ˌtī – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm \ noun:
Some say… Anti-racism is the opposite of racism and that anti-racist policies, training, and curricula are needed to combat white supremacy in America.
But really… “Anti-racism” is not what it sounds like. It does NOT refer to general efforts to combat prejudice, promote equal opportunity, or foster greater racial understanding. To the contrary, anti-racism is a radical ideology based on “Critical Race Theory” that was popularized recently by Ibram X. Kendi. It takes as its starting point the idea that it is impossible for people, laws, policies, or practices to ever be race-neutral. Anti-racism presumes that all white people are privileged and biased against people of color, and it demands that whites admit their racism and atone for it by challenging and opposing America’s founding principles. In addition, anti-racism calls for the creation of a government agency to ensure that anti-racist measures are built into all laws and government regulations.
BIPOC \ ˈbī-ˌpok \ noun:
Some say… BIPOC is an acronym that means Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
But really… The term BIPOC is a deliberate attempt to cut out Asians and light-skinned Hispanics, redefining them as “white-adjacent.” The term marginalizes people by classifying them on the basis of skin color.
Cisgender \ sis-ˈjen-dər \ noun:
Some say… A cisgender person is one whose sense of personal identity and gender correspond with the sex they were “assigned” at birth.
But really… The word cisgender is a made up word created and used by gender activists to refer to people who don’t identify as transgender—so, the 99 percent of the population who identify as the sex they were born.
Climate Change \ ˈklī-mət – ˈchānj \ noun:
Some say… Climate change is a man-made global crisis that imperils all living things on earth and which the government has the power and authority to halt.
But really… The climate has been changing ever since the earth was formed and will continue to change in the future. While climate change, both natural and man-made, poses some challenges, many proposed solutions are ineffectual and come at significant cost. Opportunistic anti-free market activists and politicians often use climate change as an excuse to push a radical regulatory agenda that would redistribute American’s wealth, leaving everyone less prosperous.
Climate Emergency \ ˈklī-mət – i-ˈmər-jən(t)-sē \ noun:
Some say… Climate change has become a global emergency that threatens human and animal extinction within the decade and, ultimately, the total destruction of the planet.
But really… “Climate emergency” is an alarmist phrase, not based on legitimate science, that is used by radical activists to scare the public into acquiescing to policies that will harm the economies and lives of those in Western nations. Child climate activist Greta Thunburg, who has been exploited by adult green activists, often uses this tactic by falsely suggesting humans have a very limited time left on the earth due to a looming climate disaster.
Critical Race Theory \ ˈkri-ti-kəl – ˈrās – ˈthē-ə-rē \ noun:
Some say… Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a philosophical framework for understanding racism and power dynamics in society.
But really… CRT is an academic discipline that starts from the premise that almost all of our current laws and institutions perpetuate white supremacy. While the American civil rights movement was premised on the quest for equal treatment, irrespective of race, CRT argues that equal treatment is itself discriminatory and eschews color-blindness as a form of oppression. Critical Race theorists view racial power as the driving force behind all behavior and seek to disrupt and destroy society’s primary institutions. CRT holds that America’s liberal constitutional order is a mere smokescreen for racial oppression and that the country’s race relations have not advanced at all in the last 75 years. In recent years, Ibram X. Kendi has repackaged and popularized this academic theory as “anti-racism.”
Cultural Appropriation \ ˈkəlch-rəl – ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən \ noun:
Some say… Cultural appropriation refers to the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of a culture’s customs, practices and/or ideas by members of other cultures, typically those who are part of more dominant cultural groups in society.
But really… Cultural appropriation is a woke creation designed to shame and punish people for showing interest in others or for emulating the traditions or practices of another culture. According to wokeism’s strict rules, people who are not members of a certain race or culture are not allowed to adopt that culture’s style or participate in its traditions and should be shunned or cancelled for doing so.
Diversity \ də-ˈvər-sə-tē \ noun:
Some say… Improving diversity means creating a space where people of all backgrounds and cultures feel welcome, safe, and respected. All institutions can benefit from diverse voices that may bring concepts to the table that were previously ignored or shut out.
But really… The woke want to impose quotas to ensure proportional representation of various groups in every facet of American life. They are not interested in creating genuinely inclusive and diverse environments, which would include a variety of viewpoints and room for disagreement. The woke claim that members of minority groups are actively harmed and made “unsafe” by certain (usually conservative) viewpoints. Creating a “diverse” space, therefore, often paradoxically means less diversity.
Diversity Training \ də-ˈvər-sə-tē – ˈtrā-niŋ \ noun:
Some say… Diversity training is intended to help employees become more culturally competent in order to better collaborate with colleagues, manage employers, and serve their customers.
But really… Diversity training is designed to indoctrinate people into woke thinking, make certain people feel guilty about their so-called “privilege,” and stoke racial and economic resentment and division among colleagues.
Equity \ ˈe-kwə-tē \ noun:
Some say… Equity recognizes each person’s unique advantages and disadvantages and takes affirmative steps to level the playing field.
But really… Equity is a race to the bottom for ALL. Equity rejects the concept of equal opportunity and, instead, demands equal outcomes. In education, this often means eliminating any indices of merit, such as class rank, grades, AP courses, or ability-level groupings for math. An equity approach assumes that any discrepancies in outcome are the result of discrimination—discrimination that needs to be countered by more discrimination of a different type.
Gender Identity \ ˈjen-dər – ī-ˈden-tə-tē \ noun:
Some say… The distinction between male and female is a social construct. Instead of classifying people by “arbitrary” markers (such as biology!), we should defer to an individual’s own internal sense of self.
But really… Biological sex differences are real and significant. Denying this scientific reality harms women and girls (particularly those who participate in female sports.)
Gender Binary \ ˈjen-dər – ˈbī-nə-rē \ noun:
Some say… “Gender binary” is outdated and that gender exists on a spectrum.
But really… Binary notions of sex are based on biology. Over 99 percent of humans are born either male or female. Even transgender individuals are attempting to transition from one side of the sex binary to the other—otherwise, what’s the point in transition? While it’s true that a boy may express feminine characteristics or vice versa, this does not disprove the existence of the sex binary, but rather highlights that there are multiple ways to be a boy or a girl.
Hate Group \ ˈhāt – ˈgrüp \ noun:
Some say… Conservative and libertarian policy groups are “hate groups.”
But really… Hate groups are small, often unorganized groups of people who seek to harm a demographic of individuals based on an immutable quality—race, gender, etc.—or due to a person’s political or religious beliefs. You can disagree with someone without being a hater or a member of a hate group.
Heteronormative \ ˌhē-tə-rō-ˈnȯr-mə-tiv \ adjective:
Some say… Heteronormative is a word that is used to express the notion that society has artificially conditioned people to believe that heterosexuality is the norm, and that heterosexuals are treated better in society at the expense of those who are either homosexual or who exist on a spectrum of attractions.
But really… The term “heteronormative” is used to criticize society for recognizing that the majority of humans are attracted to the opposite sex.
Implicit Bias[1] \ im-ˈpli-sət – ˈbī-əs \ noun:
Some say… People behave according to unconscious stereotypes about different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
But really… The concept of implicit bias is used to suggest that your good intentions don’t matter. Even if you treat people equally, and even if you reject prejudice, you are nevertheless a racist, you just don’t realize it.
Inclusive \ in-ˈklü-siv \ adjective:
Some say… Inclusivity means ensuring that all parties or groups are involved in a process.
But really… Inclusivity rarely includes anyone who suffers from “wrongthink.”
Intersectionality \ ˌin-tər-ˌsek-shə-ˈna-lə-tē \ noun:
Some say… A person’s identity is determined by the number of categories of oppression they belong to, such as race, sex, sexual orientation, and class, whether as oppressor or oppressed. For example, a black man may be subject to anti-black bias, but still benefit from his male privilege.
But really… A person’s experiences and views cannot be plotted on a graph of oppression and privilege. Intersectionality claims it recognizes the complexity of the individual but, in practice, it does not. It assumes that all blacks are same, all women are same, all gay people are same, and so on. It puts people into various “buckets,” typically focusing on victimization and division.
Institutional Racism \ ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnəl – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm \ noun:
Some say… Racism is everywhere, even when you can’t see it, and even when you cannot identify a particular discriminatory practice or a particular racist person. It is all around you, all the time, in every organization to which you belong. Institutional racism is another way of saying “systemic racism.”
But really… Claims of institutional (or systemic) racism are a way to claim racism without having to provide evidence of discrimination.
Internalized Racism \ in-ˈtər-nə-ˌlīzd – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm \ noun:
Some say… People of color internalize society’s racist beliefs without even realizing it. Like a fish that doesn’t know it’s in water, people of color sometimes do not even realize that they are surrounded by racism.
But really… The concept of internalized racism serves to silence the views of those racial minorities who deny that racism has fundamentally shaped their lives or challenges in life. Additionally, “internalized racism” provides an explanation for why people of color don’t hold lockstep experiences or worldviews, but in doing so, denies them individualism and agency in shaping their own beliefs.
Male Privilege \ ˈmāl – ˈpriv-lij \ noun:
Some say… Male privilege refers to the many benefits that boys and men enjoy in society by virtue of being male.
But really… Male privilege is a woke term used to shut men down and make them feel ineligible to comment on certain topics.
Mansplaining \ ˈman-ˌsplān-niŋ \ verb:
Some say… Mansplaining is the patronizing way a man always explains things to a woman that makes her feel stupid or debased.
But really… The term “mansplaining” negates the incredible success of American women and is commonly used to silence men and avoid engaging in conversation or debate.
Microaggression \ ˌmī-krō-ə-ˈgre-shən \ noun:
Some say… People of color experience, on a daily basis, numerous indignities that add up over time to systemic oppression.
But really… Microaggression is a term used to convince people to look at everything through the lens of victimhood and reinterpret everyday words, images, or behaviors as harmful to them when, in fact, they are not.
Patriarchy \ ˈpā-trē-ˌär-kē \ noun:
Some say… American society is a patriarchy in which men control and dominate women.
But really… America is a society in which men and women are legally equal and women are free to determine their own destinies. In fact, in America today, women comprise a majority of the electorate, hold the majority of wealth, and earn the majority of advanced degrees.
Preferred Pronouns \ pri-ˈfərd – ˈprō-ˌnau̇ns \ noun:
Some say… Preferred pronouns are the pronoun an individual chooses rather than having a pronoun (he, she, her, him) assigned based on sex.
But really… Asking people for their “preferred pronouns” is a tactic used by gender activists to bully people into accepting gender ideology and abandoning the heretofore accepted rules of English grammar. Attempts to require people to use preferred pronouns often violate our right to free speech.
Racism \ ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm \ noun:
Some say… Racism is anything that harms, upsets, or offends someone who is a member of a minority group.
But really… Racism refers to the act of treating people unequally, judging people unfairly, or wishing people ill will because of the color of their skin, their ethnic background, or heritage. Unfortunately, people today use the term “racism” as a catch-all phrase for anything the Left disagrees with. The overuse of the terms is a tactic used to marginalize and demonize others.
Restorative Justice (in schools) \ ri-ˈstȯr-ə-tiv – ˈjə-stəs \ noun:
Some say… Restorative justice is more fair than traditional disciplinary systems that may disproportionately punish students of color. Restorative justice between perpetrator and victim after disciplinary incidents can be a learning experience for all involved.
But really… Restorative justice programs remove the traditional discipline practices that have been employed for generations in schools (detention, expulsion) and replace them with practices such as talk therapy and mediation sessions between victim and perpetrator. Districts with restorative justice programs have increased rates of in-school violence and fewer students reporting that they feel safe at school in surveys. In some tragic cases, restorative justice programs have played a role in allowing violent students to remain in the traditional school setting where they have harmed other students. That is NOT FAIR.
Safe Space \ ˈsāf – ˈspās \ noun:
Some say… It is necessary to set aside separate spaces where people can avoid engaging with those who are different from them or with whom they disagree. In these spaces, they are free from “harm.” A safe space can also refer to a space where someone can “recover” from the “trauma” they experienced listening to speech with which they disagree.
But really… Safe spaces are places for snowflakes who cannot deal with differing opinions or challenges to their groupthink. Rather than protect people, “safe spaces” actually cause harm by creating unhealthy fear, isolation, and division.
Sex \ ˈseks \ noun:
Some say… Sex is a social convention imposed by the medical establishment at birth.
But really… Sex refers to either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of genetics and biology.
Systemic Racism \ si-ˈste-mik – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm \ noun:
Some say… Racism is woven into the fabric of America. “Systemic racism” refers to the idea that all of our most basic institutions oppress non-whites.
But really… Systemic racism is a way to suggest that there has been no improvement in American society and in the condition of black Americans in the past century. Like “institutional racism,” the concept of “systemic racism” presumes that racism is everywhere, even where you can’t see it. This provides the Left a never-ending stream of grievances and justification for new benefits and programs.
Triggered \ ˈtri-gərd \ adjective:
Some say… Being triggered is the state of panic or fear induced upon a person when they hear discussions of something that unearths stressful or upsetting memories.
But really… It’s an excuse used for acting like a toddler when you hear someone say something with which you disagree.
Toxic Masculinity \ ˈtäk-sik – ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē \ noun:
Some say… Cultural masculine norms are harmful to society.
But really… Toxic masculinity refers to any and all male attributes and is used to demonize men and promote the image of males as victimizers.
Whitesplaining \ ˈ(h)wīt – ˈsplān-niŋ \ verb:
Some say… Whitesplaining is the patronizing way in which white people explain things to a person of color.
But really… Whitesplaining is a woke phrase used to make people feel that they are racist even when they are not. It is a way to marginalize those who disagree and silence voices.
White-Adjacent \ ˈ(h)wīt – ə-ˈjā-sᵊnt \ adjective:
Some say… White-Adjacent refers to members of a minority group who ascribe to or parrot white supremacist messages and support white supremacist policies or who deny that systemic racism exists.
But really… White-Adjacent is a phrase utilized by Critical Race theorists to marginalize members of minority groups who have a light skin complexion or who disagree with radical leftist messaging on race, the Black Lives Matter organization, Critical Race Theory, or victimology. It is often used to describe Asians and light-skinned Hispanics.
White Fragility \ ˈ(h)wīt – ˈfra-jəl-ə-dē \ noun:
Some say… White people exhibit “white fragility” (or discomfort) when they object to the characterization of all whites as privileged.
But really… White fragility is a term, coined by writer Robin DiAngelo, that is used to shut down, silence and marginalize people who disagree with Critical Race Theory and notions of white privilege. If you express disagreement, you are really indicating that you are too fragile to accept your own racism. White fragility, like many other woke concepts, is an Orwellian concept that is impossible to disprove. Indeed, any pushback about the concept is considered proof that it exists. DiAngelo has made millions from the sales of her 2018 book, White Fragility, and from speaking fees and corporate training sessions that pressure white people to admit their privilege and racism.
White Privilege \ ˈ(h)wīt – ˈpriv-lij \ noun:
Some say… White people enjoy many benefits and privileges in society by virtue of their skin color.
But really… Charges of “white privilege” are designed to shut down and marginalize people by making them feel guilty, unwelcome, and ineligible to comment on certain topics. The constant drumbeat of white privilege can create a feeling of hopelessness in non-white individuals who are told the deck is always stacked against them when, in fact, it is not.
White Supremacy \ ˈ(h)wīt – sə-ˈpre-mə-sē \ noun:
Some say… Any culturally insensitive remark or politically incorrect viewpoint is an act of “white supremacy.” They further contend that white supremacy is imprinted on all of our nation’s institutions and that these institutions, thus, protect white people’s power at the expense of people of color.
But really… White supremacy refers to a pernicious and discredited belief that white people are genetically superior to people of other races. Woke ideologues overuse the term “white supremacy” to suggest that even well-intentioned Americans are part of a cabal of Klansmen, determined to oppress people of color. The overuse of the term trivializes the despicable nature of white supremacy in an attempt to inflate the minuscule number of Americans who actually harbor such views. Too often, it’s just a way to shut down open discussion and debate.
Darlene Corbett
2021-06-30 18:48:37-04:00
I love this. I want it to remain front and center. I am sure that more words will be added in the next several weeks. This is an example of the alternate universe encompassing us. Thank you, Julie, for publishing this.
Ginny Gentles
2021-07-16 09:21:14-04:00
So glad you included the gender identity and preferred pronouns here. Our children really don’t know that a lot of these terms (e.g., cisgender!) were recently created. We need to be aware of the language they’re being taught at their schools and activities, and help them understand that pronouns like xe, xem, xyr, xemself are new and nonsensical.
Ericka Andersen
2021-07-21 08:30:31-04:00
This is so helpful! It’s like people stopped using definitions or caring what words even mean anymore. Definitely want more people to see this list!
Natalie Le
2021-07-22 09:00:42-04:00
Y’all should add “sheeeeesh.” Hahaha, i’m kidding.
Sam Janney
2021-07-30 09:50:51-04:00
Love love LOVE the ‘But really …’ section under every definition. The Woketionary definition for Inclusive is my fave. So brilliant!
Peter Oehler
2021-12-04 11:12:32-05:00
It seems to me that the great majority of those who have awakened from a deep sleep (or coma) now, for some insane reason, want to return us to the disturbing days of yesteryear relating only to those who are party to the correct cliches categorizing and separating all by various criteria. Considering such, it seem rational to me that those who adhere to that religion (such as most of the democrat political class and the main stream media as well as so many in public education) should seriously consider canceling Martin Luther King Day.
Diana Furr
2021-12-09 14:49:13-05:00
Thanks for this excellent resource. The Point-Counterpoint (Some Say… But Really) is very effective!