Someone says they’re vibe coding an app — describing what they want in plain English and letting AI write the code. It’s Collins Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year. Let’s break down what it actually means.
What Does “Vibe Coding” Mean?
Quick answer: “Vibe coding” means building software by describing what you want in natural language and letting AI generate the code, often without reading or reviewing it. It was coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025 and named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year in November 2025.
Full Definition
Vibe coding is a software development practice where you describe what you want in plain language, and AI generates functional code. Instead of writing code line-by-line, you describe the desired outcome in prompts to an AI system, which then translates these intentions into functional code. It’s about focusing on what to build, not the how.
Common Contexts
You’ll see “vibe coding” used in tech articles, developer forums, Twitter/X threads, and everyday conversation when someone is describing AI-assisted development, rapid prototyping, or natural-language app creation.
Alternate Spellings
Written as “vibe coding,” sometimes paired with “agentic engineering” (Andrej Karpathy’s preferred term as of 2026) or “AI-assisted development” (the broader category).
How It’s Pronounced
Pronounced exactly as it’s spelled — “vybe koh-ding,” two syllables for “vibe,” two for “coding.”
Typical Tone
Can range from genuinely descriptive (talking about AI-assisted development) to critical (highlighting security risks or lack of code review) to enthusiastic (celebrating rapid prototyping and accessibility).
Origin and Evolution
When It Became Popular
The term was coined by Andrej Karpathy (former Tesla AI lead, OpenAI co-founder) in a February 2025 tweet: “There’s a new kind of coding I call ‘vibe coding,’ where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.” It rose to such popularity that Collins English Dictionary named it Word of the Year in November 2025.
Platforms or Subcultures
It spread through tech blogs, developer forums, Twitter/X, and AI communities, particularly in discussions about AI-assisted development, rapid prototyping, and the future of software creation. It’s also heavily used in startup and entrepreneurship contexts.
How It Evolved Over Time
What started as a specific term for AI-assisted development broadened into a general-purpose term for any natural-language app creation. By 2026, it had stabilized as permanent tech slang, often referenced alongside “agentic engineering” and “AI-assisted development.
Modern Usage and Examples
Describing AI development
“I’m vibe coding this app — just describing what I want and letting AI build it.”
Critiquing lack of review
“He’s fully vibe coding — not reading any of the AI-generated code.”
Celebrating rapid prototyping
“Vibe coding let me build this in an hour — would’ve taken weeks manually.”
Describing the workflow
“My whole workflow is vibe coding now — describe, generate, iterate, deploy.”
Who Uses It?
“Vibe coding” is used heavily by developers, tech commentators, startup founders, and AI enthusiasts on Twitter/X, tech blogs, developer forums, and everyday conversation. It’s also common in AI, startup, and entrepreneurship content where creators discuss AI-assisted development.
Example Sentences
“I vibe coded this whole prototype in a weekend — AI did all the heavy lifting.”
“She’s vibe coding her startup — no traditional developers, just AI tools.”
“Vibe coding is the future — describe what you want, AI builds it.”
Similar Slang Terms
- AI slop – low-quality AI-generated content, often discussed alongside vibe coding in AI ethics contexts.
- Vibe hacking – manipulating moods or AI systems, another 2026 Cambridge addition related to AI and vibes.
- Locked in – being completely focused and committed, sometimes vibe coding in its AI-assisted intensity.
- Agentic engineering – Andrej Karpathy’s preferred term as of 2026, describing the same AI-assisted development approach.
- No-code – the classic, non-AI way of describing visual app creation without traditional coding.
Pop Culture, Memes, and Trends
Memes
“Vibe coding” memes often feature screenshots of AI-generated code or natural-language prompts captioned “vibe coding” or “I don’t read code anymore, I just describe vibes.”
TikTok Trends
Creators film “vibe coding vs. traditional coding” videos showing the difference between AI-assisted development and manual line-by-line coding, often highlighting speed and accessibility.
Celebrity Content
Several tech influencers, developers, and AI researchers have referenced “vibe coding” in posts and videos, often as a description of the future of software development, helping normalize the term in mainstream tech contexts.
Twitter/X Jokes or Instagram Captions
On X, “vibe coding” frequently appears in tech and AI threads, often with comments like “vibe coding is the future” or “I’m fully vibe coding this project.”
Is “Vibe Coding” Safe to Use?
Yes, it’s completely casual and non-offensive as a descriptive term for AI-assisted development. It’s widely used in tech journalism, developer communities, and casual conversation alike, though it can come across as dismissive if aimed at someone’s genuine development work rather than AI-assisted prototyping.
Why It’s Popular
“Vibe coding” resonates because it names a universal desire — to build software without getting bogged down in syntax and implementation details. Its focus on intent over implementation makes it a powerful way to describe the shift in how software gets built in the AI era. That’s why it’s stabilized as permanent slang rather than burning out like typical viral trends.
So next time you describe an app in plain English and let AI build it, just remember: you’re vibe coding. Keep exploring the world of slang, and who knows what other gems you’ll uncover!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “vibe coding” actually mean?
It means building software by describing what you want in natural language and letting AI generate the code, often without reading or reviewing it. It was coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025 and named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year in November 2025.
Where did “vibe coding” come from?
The term was coined by Andrej Karpathy (former Tesla AI lead, OpenAI co-founder) in a February 2025 tweet: “There’s a new kind of coding I call ‘vibe coding,’ where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.” It rose to such popularity that Collins English Dictionary named it Word of the Year in November 2025.
What is “agentic engineering”?
“Agentic engineering” is Andrej Karpathy’s preferred term as of 2026, describing the same AI-assisted development approach as vibe coding. It emphasizes the agentic, autonomous nature of AI tools in the development process.
Is vibe coding secure?
Vibe coding has security risks — studies show ~45% of AI-generated code ships with security holes. Best practices include reviewing generated code, writing tests, and understanding the implementation even when using AI tools.
