meanie

Meanie is an informal term in English used as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, it designates a person who is cruel, unfriendly, or spiteful, frequently used in a playful or light admonition, especially among children. As an adjective, it describes conduct that is unkind or petty: “That was a meanie trick.” The word carries a colloquial, not formal, tone and is often used in everyday conversation, schoolyard speech, and children’s media.

Etymology and form: Meanie is a diminutive form of mean, created with the diminutive suffix -ie, a pattern common in English for expressing familiarity or affection. It emerged in 20th-century slang and remains common in American and British informal speech.

Usage and nuance: The term can be affectionate when used jokingly among friends, or insulting when spoken with seriousness or hostility. It is frequently used to describe minor misbehavior rather than serious harm, though it can also label harsher actions in a playful context.

In culture and media: Beyond everyday speech, Meanie or Meanies has been used as a name or nickname for fictional characters and, occasionally, musical groups or teams. The usage typically signals a light, humorous or antagonistic persona rather than a formal designation.