newyork.localmean.com/deadass
Deadass
DEHD-ass
Local meaning
Seriously, truthfully, or completely; also used to show that a person is not joking.
Deadass can intensify a statement or stand alone as a challenge for confirmation. New York is strongly associated with the term, but music and social media have carried it far beyond the city.
Example in context
- “You deadass walked from Midtown?”
How it is used
Strongly associated with New York; now widespread in U.S. internet and youth speech.
emphatic, serious, sometimes playful
conversation, texts, reactions, arguments
Strongly associated with New York; now widespread in U.S. internet and youth speech.
Repeated use can sound forced when it is not natural to the speaker. The word adds force; it does not make a claim true.
Spelling and scope
Strongly associated with New York; now widespread in U.S. internet and youth speech.
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dead assdeadass meaning
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Frequently asked questions
Does deadass mean serious?
Yes. It can mean seriously, genuinely, or not joking, and it can also intensify an adjective or whole statement.
Is deadass only New York slang?
It is strongly associated with New York, especially the Bronx and wider NYC culture, but it is now used much more broadly.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- deadassMerriam-Webster
Dictionary history and current senses of deadass as an intensifier and expression of seriousness.
- deadassDictionary.com
Usage overview connecting deadass with New York speech and online circulation.