What Does 67 Mean in Slang? Word of the Year 2025

Few slang terms have exploded as quickly as “67” did in 2025, leaving parents and teachers baffled while kids stay in on the joke. Dictionary.com named it the 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as “so-so” or just playful nonsense.

Dictionary.com Word of the Year 2025: 67 ·
First widespread appearance: Early 2025 on TikTok and Instagram Reels ·
Primary gesture: Hand sign forming 6-7 ·
Origin theory 1: California police code for dead body

What Does 67 Mean in Slang?

The Main Definitions of 67

• “So-so” or “maybe this, maybe that.” Dictionary.com (slang dictionary publisher) defines the term as an ambiguous, largely nonsensical response similar to “meh.” It is often accompanied by a palm-up hand motion that mimics weighing two options.
• Brainrot slang. The same source groups “67” under “brainrot” vocabulary — internet language meant to be absurd and intentionally meaningless. (Dictionary.com)
• Group identity marker. According to CBS News (established news outlet), the term functions mainly as an inside joke that signals belonging to Gen Alpha’s online community.

How Dictionary.com Defined It as Word of the Year

On October 29, 2025, Dictionary.com officially added “67” to its slang dictionary and named it Word of the Year. The entry reads: “a viral, ambiguous slang term that spread through Gen Alpha social media and school hallways, largely nonsensical but sometimes used to mean ‘so-so’ or ‘maybe this, maybe that.'” Dictionary.com also noted that the term is an example of “brainrot” – language that is intentionally meaningless and playfully absurd. The selection signals how much the meme has penetrated mainstream culture.

The implication: The term’s inclusion in a major dictionary formalizes its status. Anyone dismissing it as “just a phase” may be underestimating its staying power.

Why Are Kids Yelling 67?

The TikTok and Instagram Reels Origin

• Skrilla’s “Doot Doot” (2024). Several sources, including NorthJersey (regional news outlet), trace the meme to drill rapper Skrilla’s track “Doot Doot,” where the phrase “6-7” repeats. The song became a TikTok sound, and users began creating videos with the hand gesture.
• From sound to trend. By early 2025, the audio clip spread rapidly. TODAY (parenting outlet) reports that kids began yelling “67” in school hallways, often while forming the double-handed “weighing” motion.
• Nonsensical appeal. The Tab (youth culture site) emphasizes that the term “does not mean anything at all” – it’s a random internet joke that thrives on silliness.

The Hand Gesture Explained

TODAY describes the gesture: one hand forms a “6” (thumb and pinky out, other fingers down) and the other forms a “7” (pointer finger up, thumb and other fingers closed). Together they mimic a scale or weighing motion, reflecting the “maybe this, maybe that” meaning.

The pattern: The meme’s strength lies not in a clever punchline but in shared absurdity. For tweens, that’s precisely the point.

Is 67 Good or Bad Slang?

The Ambiguous Nature of the Term

The term carries no fixed moral weight. Dictionary.com defines it neutrally as “so-so,” while CBS News notes that users apply it in a variety of contexts, from answering questions to reacting to content. Educator Mr. Lindsay told TODAY that the phrase “lacks any true meaning” and is “just a fun number to say.”

Potential Negative Connotations with Police Code

A darker theory connects “67” to California penal code 6-7, which refers to a dead body. This origin is cited by multiple outlets, including CBS News, but most experts agree that the vast majority of users are unaware of this link and do not use the term with that intent. TODAY quotes Mr. Lindsay again: “Six seven is merely a nod to a meme.”

The catch: “67” is neither good nor bad by itself – its meaning depends on the speaker’s intent and the listener’s knowledge. That ambiguity is both the joke and the source of concern.

Is 67 OK for Kids to Say?

Considering the Police Code Origin

No official guidance from schools or child-safety organizations has warned against the term. Dictionary.com’s neutral definition suggests it is not inherently offensive. However, CBS News points out that some parents on social media express unease about the possible link to a police code for death.

Parental Perspectives from Social Media

A Reddit user in r/generationology described the trend as “annoying” and a “non-stop joke since January 2025” (Reddit). Other forums show a split: some parents shrug it off as harmless, while others argue that any term with a macabre undertone should be discouraged. Educator Mr. Lindsay offered a balanced take to TODAY: “It’s just a fun number to say. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Why this matters: Banning the term outright could backfire. The most effective approach is to stay informed and maintain open dialogue, just as with any evolving slang.

What Does 67 Mean in the Bible or Spiritually?

Biblical Number 67

The number 67 appears in the Bible only in a few verse counts (e.g., Psalm 67) and carries no significant prophetic meaning. No mainstream theological source connects it to the 2025 slang trend. Dictionary.com’s entry makes no mention of religious contexts.

Spiritual Interpretations

Online searches sometimes attribute angel number meanings to 67 (e.g., “new beginnings,” “spiritual growth”), but these are speculative and unrelated to the TikTok meme. CBS News confirms that the slang usage is “ambiguous” and “context-dependent” – not rooted in spiritual numerology. Any connection to religion or spirituality is a coincidence, not an intended reference.

The implication: Parents searching for deeper meaning in “67” can rest assured: it’s a digital inside joke, not a coded religious statement.

“Six seven is merely a nod to a meme. It lacks any true meaning – it’s just a fun number to say.”

– Mr. Lindsay, educator, quoted in TODAY

“67 is a viral, ambiguous slang term that spread through Gen Alpha social media and school hallways, largely nonsensical but sometimes used to mean ‘so-so’ or ‘maybe this, maybe that.'”

– Dictionary.com

“It’s been a non-stop joke since January 2025. It’s kind of annoying.”

– Reddit user, r/generationology (source)

For parents and educators, the lesson is clear: “67” is a product of its digital environment – a meme that means nothing concrete yet means everything to the community that uses it. Reacting with curiosity rather than alarm is the strongest response. For the kids themselves, the trend will likely fade as the next brainrot term takes its place. But for now, understanding “67” means understanding how Gen Alpha communicates: in shared, absurd, and deeply social language.

For a deeper look at how the number became a cultural phenomenon, check out the viral slang term 67 and its journey to Word of the Year status.

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