straightedge
straightedge Lexical Profile
straightedge Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A rigid bar or piece of material with a perfectly straight margin, used for drawing straight lines or checking the levelness of a surface.
"The architect used a steel straightedge to draw exact lines on the drafted blueprint."
A subculture of hardcore punk music whose adherents deliberately abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs.
"As a devoted follower of straightedge, he frequently attended intense underground punk shows but never engaged in the drinking that typically surrounded them."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the subculture, the term is frequently capitalized as 'Straight Edge' and historically abbreviated as 'sXe'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed as a compound of 'straight' + 'edge'. The punk subculture sense originated from the 1981 song 'Straight Edge' by the American hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.