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Backrooms

(Internet slang) An online urban legend or creepypasta of a seemingly endless maze of empty hallways, often described as being inhabited by monsters or having multiple levels or floors.

ˈbækˌɹuːmsDocumented since 2010s2010sGen AlphaCurrent118 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🌐 Internet & Memes
1 definition
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~2019 · 1 year of recorded use
2019Born2026: 5 citationsToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 26, 2026

(Internet slang) An online urban legend or creepypasta of a seemingly endless maze of empty hallways, often described as being inhabited by monsters or having multiple levels or floors.

See it in action
  • “Dinky found a portal to the Backrooms behind the kitchen cabinet”

  • “I'm karelia the Smiler from the Backrooms and you like what you see Chiku”

If you're not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you'll end up in the Backrooms, where it's nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, the endless background noise of fluorescent lights …
Origin: From backrooms. Coined by an anonymous poster on the 4chan /x/ board on May 12th, 2019 (see quotation below). Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Backrooms means: An online urban legend or creepypasta of a seemingly endless maze of empty hallways, often described as being inhabited by monsters or having multiple levels or floors.. It is internet-era slang, commonly seen on TikTok, Discord, Reddit or X. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

Backrooms means: An online urban legend or creepypasta of a seemingly endless maze of empty hallways, often described as being inhabited by monsters or having multiple levels or floors.. Register: very informal, internet slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: cool_person
Heard in the wild
  • “Dinky found a portal to the Backrooms behind the kitchen cabinet”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Backrooms (2026, Dir. Kane Parsons)”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “The best teaser trailers I’ve seen this year so far are for Obsession, Backrooms, Idiots, and Digger. I don’t even think I need more than like the 60 seconds tops on these trailers run for.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “I'm karelia the Smiler from the Backrooms and you like what you see Chiku”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “In my lifetime I've watched gambling in America move from Casinos and backrooms to the corner store, but this shit is different.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

Backrooms means: An online urban legend or creepypasta of a seemingly endless maze of empty hallways, often described as being inhabited by monsters or having multiple levels or floors.. It is internet-era slang, commonly seen on TikTok, Discord, Reddit or X. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.

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