straight edge

noun

A lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs.

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Meanings

nounstraight edge (countable and uncountable, plural straight edges)

plural straight edges

  1. uncountableA lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs.

    Synonyms: sXe

  2. countableOne who follows this lifestyle.
  3. alternativecountableAlternative form of straightedge (“a tool to check for straightness”).
adjectivestraight edge (comparative more straight edge, superlative most straight edge)

comparative more straight edge · superlative most straight edge

  1. informalLiving one's life opposing or eschewing the use of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs.

Similar
sXe

Origin

The subculture takes the name from the 1981 song Straight Edge by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. Compare straight (“not using alcohol, drugs, etc.”) attested since 1904.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

straight edge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/straight%20edge

MLA

“straight edge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/straight%20edge. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “straight edge,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/straight%20edge.

Source: straight edge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.