hardcore

1 of 2

adjective

hard·​core ˈhärd-ˈkȯr How to pronounce hardcore (audio)
variants or hard-core
1
a
: of, relating to, or being part of a hard core (see hard core sense 1a) : marked by or involving a persistent state or circumstance
hardcore poverty
the hard-core unemployed
b
: very active and enthusiastic : dedicated, die-hard
hardcore gamers
Few of the races for Congress and the Legislature are seriously contested, and most voters will probably be hard-core party loyalists on both sides.John Hill
c
: serious or intense in nature or degree
… gyms where the training became so hardcore that the program bordered on tyrannical.Mark Giannotto
2
of pornography : containing explicit descriptions of sex acts or scenes of actual sex acts compare soft-core
3
: characterized by or being the purest or most basic form of something : fundamental
News executives deeply committed to and trained in hard-core journalism …Ron Alridge

hard core

2 of 2

noun

variants or hardcore
plural hard cores or hardcores
1
: a central or fundamental and usually enduring group or part: such as
a
: a relatively small and usually enduring core of society marked by apparent resistance to change or inability to escape a persistent condition (such as poverty or chronic unemployment)
b
: the most devoted and active members of a group
… the hard core of the Unionist Party …J. B. Firth
2
usually hardcore chiefly British : hard material in pieces (such as broken bricks or stone) used as a bottom layer or fill (as in making roads and in foundations)
3
usually hardcore or hardcore punk : a subgenre of punk rock marked usually by intense speed and loud volume
For most of the people who loved hardcore, the music was inseparable from the scene that created it, and from the turbulent shows that brought participants together.Kelefa Sanneh
often used before another noun
… '80s hardcore bands like the Adolescents and Vandals …Lorraine Ali

Examples of hardcore in a Sentence

Adjective the hard-core habits that generate our mountains of trash everyday will be extremely difficult to change Noun He knows that he can count on the support of a hard core of party loyalists.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Not even hardcore devotees are likely to have wondered what the sleeping arrangements were like in the RV the band used for tours in the 1970s. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024 There is a small but hardcore, loyal fan base of that original film. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
Researchers first differentiated between hard core subtypes, who almost never leave their room and rarely talk to family members, and the soft category, who occasionally venture out and have some contact with their families. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024 While some hard core lefties in the Democratic Party may object, moderates like Adams, who reach out to the middle, would be bolstered. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for hardcore 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hardcore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardcore was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near hardcore

Cite this Entry

“Hardcore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardcore. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hard core

noun
1
: an unchanging and lasting central part
2
: a small number of aggressive members of a group
hard-core adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hardcore

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