Bummer: How a Downer Became a ’60s Staple
Summary: When disappointment needed one word, the counterculture had it.
In this post:
- What “bummer” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1960s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “bummer” mean?
A “bummer” is a letdown—anything dreary, unfair, or mood‑killing.
How it was used in the 1960s
“Missed the show? What a bummer.” The term stuck into the ’70s and beyond.
Modern equivalents
• letdown
• drag
• downer