ENTRY NO. 0147 EXAMINED 2026-07-28

DELULU

adjective delusional, aspirationally
Delusional, but aspirationally so. The confidence of someone with no evidence.
1

Variations

  • Wildly unrealistic about romantic prospects.
  • Optimistic beyond all supporting data.
  • Manifesting, but louder.
2

Origin

Born in K-pop stan communities in the mid-2010s to describe fans with wedding plans for people who don't know they exist; went fully mainstream on TikTok around 2023 with the motto "delulu is the solulu."

3

Examples

"She thinks the CEO will notice her cover letter font — completely delulu."
"Being delulu got me the interview, so who's laughing now?"
"His five-year plan is 80% delulu and 20% spreadsheet."
4

Cultural context

Half insult, half life philosophy. Calling yourself delulu is a flex; calling someone else delulu is a diagnosis. The community consensus is that a small dose is medicinal.