Ship
To want two people (real or fictional) together romantically — fandom's favorite verb since early forums.
Definition
Ship (from 'relationship') means you support or fantasize about a romantic pairing — 'I ship them.' A 'ship name' blends two names (Brangelina, Korrasami). Shipping can be earnest, ironic, or war-starting when fandoms disagree on canon pairings. It applies to celebrities, fictional characters, and even friends you think should date.
History
Fans coined 'ship' in 1990s X-Files mailing lists ('relationshippers'). The term exploded through LiveJournal, Tumblr, and fanfiction archives, then entered mainstream social media as stan culture grew. Shipping wars are as old as the word itself.
Cultural scores
Editorial estimates of cultural weight — Current Popularity tracks how much people are posting about this now, not historical fame.
Current Popularity = how actively people are posting about this today. Influence = lasting footprint. Cringe = online reception. Brainrot = absurdist energy. How scoring works
Examples
- “I do not care if it is canon — I ship them.”
- “The show baited that ship and then killed it.”
- “They posted a photo together and shippers lost their minds.”
Related entries
Culturally linked — not random recommendations.
Lore
SlangBackstory, hidden context, or accumulated drama around a person, fandom, or meme — the wiki in your head.
Delulu
SlangShort for delusional — believing something unrealistic, especially about a crush, celebrity, or fantasy outcome.
Stan
SlangAn obsessive, loyal fan — from Eminem's stalker anthem to verb form for wholehearted support.
Situationship
SlangA romantic-ish connection with no label — more than talking, less than official.
References
Sources behind this entry. Prefer primary reporting and established culture archives over rumor.
- Shipping (fandom) — Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org