A hippie was a young person in the 1960s and early 1970s who rejected conventional American life in favor of peace, love, and personal freedom. Hippies grew their hair long, wore colorful or unconventional clothes, listened to rock music, and often lived in communes (shared houses where groups lived together). They protested the Vietnam War, celebrated nature and creativity, and questioned the focus on career success and material wealth that dominated their parents' generation.

The hippie movement started in San Francisco and spread across America and beyond. Hippies gathered at massive concerts like Woodstock in 1969, where hundreds of thousands listened to music and celebrated their ideals together. They often used the phrase “peace and love” and symbols like flowers and peace signs. This led to the names “flower children” and “flower power” for the movement.

Today, people sometimes use hippie to describe anyone with a relaxed, nature-loving, or unconventional lifestyle. You might hear someone jokingly called a hippie for loving folk music, wearing tie-dye shirts, or caring deeply about environmental causes. While the original hippie era ended in the 1970s, its influence on music, art, environmentalism, and attitudes about peace and personal expression continues today.