What does "greenie" mean?
An environmentalist, someone who shows concern for the environment; often aimed at environmental extremists.
Greenie
noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An environmentalist, someone who shows concern for the environment; often aimed at environmental extremists.
- Grammar: greenie is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: beginner, pollywogs.
- Usage evidence: People ask me if am I a greenie and I go, ‘No, not in the sense that I chain myself to trees, no I′m not. But in the sense that I am concerned about the environment and do my little bit to help, then yes I am.’
How to use "greenie"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "greenie" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "greenie" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "greenie" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "greenie" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "beginner" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An environmentalist, someone who shows concern for the environment; often aimed at environmental extremists. Australia, New-Zealand, derogatory, slang
"People ask me if am I a greenie and I go, ‘No, not in the sense that I chain myself to trees, no I′m not. But in the sense that I am concerned about the environment and do my little bit to help, then yes I am.’"
- 2 A member of the Australian Greens. Australian, broadly, informal
- 3 A person from Colorado; after the color of the Colorado license plate. US, derogatory, slang
"At Alcova, the problem is compounded for the fool or fools when they have greenie license plates and behave like tourists. The growing combative presence in their rear is chalk full of true Wyoming grit."
- 4 An unripe fruit. informal
"In every kitchen arises the acrid tang of green- tomato pickle, chutney, chili; on every south-facing kitchen windowsill the most promising greenies line up to be coaxed ripe."
- 5 A beginner, a novice; a greenhorn. US, slang
"[…]“When the teacher says ‘Good Morning,’ you say, ‘Fuck You.’ That′s what you say in America.” Sometimes they varied this with “son of a bitch.” Sure enough the greenie parroted these instructions to the merriment of the classroom."
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 A small, green object. informal
"He dropped the emerald studs into Abbey's palm and said, “Those little greenies are worth more than diamonds.”"
- 7 A small, green object.; A blob of nasal mucus; a bogey. informal, slang
- 8 A small, green object.; Amphetamines used in baseball. US, informal, slang
"When Rose broke into major-league baseball, the use of amphetamines, or “greenies” as the players called them, was an aboveboard practice. There were more players who took them than there were who lifted weights. The greenies were frequently dispensed by team trainers."
- 9 Any of various birds having predominantly green plumage.; A green-headed sunbird (Cyanomitra verticalis), of Africa. informal
"All eye turned to the small jewel of a bird that was sipping nectar from an orange-flowered plant. "A greenie, I think, Rose," said Hilary Fotherington-Thomas, squinting down her binoculars."
- 10 Any of various birds having predominantly green plumage.; A scaly-breasted lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus), of Australia. informal
"In spite of repeated public statements and reminders, school boys and others are continuing to trap `bluies' and `greenies,' particularly in the Brisbane area, the Department of Agriculture and Stock announced to-day. These birds belong to a family more correctly called lorikeets, and as such, under the Fauna Protection Act, they are totally protected throughout Queensland."
- 11 Any of various birds having predominantly green plumage.; A white-plumed honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), of Australia. informal
- 12 Any of various birds having predominantly green plumage.; A western silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chloronotus), of Western Australia. informal
"I don't know how many eggs the mother cuckoo laid, but we picked up two young unfledged greenies which were thrown out of the nest by the intruder."
- 13 An Atlantic thread herring (Opisthonema oglinum), a herring-like fish in the family Clupeidae. informal
"In the summer time, live bait is often used almost within throwing distance of the jetties for the kingfish and cobia. Local captains use greenies or threadfin herring primarily and catch them on gold hooks right outside the Stuart inlet."
- 14 The yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus), a fish in the family Sebastidae. informal
"Depending upon the species, fishers may harvest along the ocean floor for many rockfish and other groundfish, while hake, pollock, and some rockfish species (i.e. greenies and brownies) are targeted with mid-water trawls."
- 15 Diminutive of greenback. diminutive, form-of, slang
"“Come on Lil, catch a greenie,” I say. In between wipe-outs, Lily is having a great time too, occasionally catching waves all the way into the beach."
- 16 The player whose ball is closest to the hole on a par-3 hole after the first shot (drive), in the case when multiple players reach the green on that first shot and the player with the closest ball sinks the ball within the next two shots.
- 17 A Green Beret. US, slang
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"People ask me if am I a greenie and I go, ‘No, not in the sense that I chain myself to trees, no I′m not. But in the sense that I am concerned about the environment and do my little bit to help, then yes I am.’"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "greenie"?
Common synonyms include: beginner, pollywogs.
How do you use "greenie" in a sentence?
People ask me if am I a greenie and I go, ‘No, not in the sense that I chain myself to trees, no I′m not. But in the sense that I am concerned about the environment and do my little bit to help, then yes I am.’
Etymology
From green + -ie. Environmentalist sense first attested in Australia in 1973, referring to trade unionists who supported green bans.