What Does the Slang "Gym Bro" Mean?

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Learn more about gymbros and toxic gym culture

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA Reviewed by Monica Morris

Last Updated: January 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Gym Bro Meaning

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Usage

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Traits

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Is it bad to be a gym bro?

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What is a “gym influencer?”

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Related Fitness Slang

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Video

If you’ve ever set foot in a gym, you’ve probably encountered at least 1 gym bro. They’re the people who shout and yell every time they lift a weight, then slam it down on the ground as they take whey protein shots chased with Gatorade. Suffice to say, it’s not a positive stereotype, and we’re here to tell you more about what it means, how to use it, common traits of gym bros, if it’s always a bad thing to be a gym bro, what a "gym influencer" is, and related terms.

What is a gym bro?

A gym bro is someone who spends most of the time at the gym, and even makes working out a core part of their personality. They’re often seen as annoying or toxic as they spend too long using gym equipment or act superior, but plenty of gym bros are totally chill and respectful.

Section 1 of 6:

Gym Bro Meaning

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A gym bro is someone who makes going to the gym a big part of their personality. They’re usually male, as the name suggests, and obsessed with things like “gains” or “cutting” or other gym and fitness-related things. When people use the term “gym bro,” they’re often making fun of this specific sort of person who gets weirdly into fitness and is super vocal or obvious about it.^{[1]
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- It’s hard to say when or where the term started, but it’s been around for a while, and regained some popularity around 2021-22, when gyms opened back up en masse and people had more encounters with gym bros.
- Example: “I hate going to the gym in the evening. It’s always full of annoying gym bros.”
- Example: “That gym bro keeps hogging the pull up bar.”

Section 2 of 6:

Using “Gym Bro”

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Use “gym bro” to talk about people who spend a lot of time at the gym. Gym bros come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: a passionate, almost obsessive fixation with fitness. And to achieve that fitness, they’re almost always at the gym. Use the term to describe someone who spends most of their free time pumping iron.
- Example: “I never see Mike at parties. He’s always working out with his gym bros.”
- Example: “A lot of the guys at the YMCA are regular gym bros. They’re there even on holidays.”
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Use “gym bro” to refer to someone who’s annoying about fitness. Usually, “gym bro” has negative connotations, and is used to complain about people who make the gym an unpleasant place to be. Or, it’s used to complain about people who are pretentious or just plain tedious when it comes to fitness.^{[2]
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- Example: “That gym bro made fun of me for not starting my morning with a protein shake.”
- Example: “I wish that gym bro would stop shouting every time he lifts a weight.”

Section 3 of 6:

Traits of Gym Bros

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It’s why they’re called “gym bros” after all. They spend all their time in pursuit of the perfect bod. it's a lifestyle, and maybe almost a religion. If you’re gonna get swole, you gotta put in the hours. For gym bros, working out is fun and rewarding, and sometimes the biggest thing they have going for them, so it makes sense.^{[3]
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They have lots of opinions on the best ways to eat and get fit. Gym bros love to tell you that you’re doing it wrong, and actually the best way to get natty gains is to chug protein shakes, hang upside down from the pull up bar, and eat dog food.^{[4]
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Research source} They’re not always licensed fitness trainers, though, so take their advice with a grain of salt. Or a whole shaker.
- The dog food thing is mostly a joke, but we wouldn’t put it past gym bros to try it. It’s got all that protein, after all…
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They can be a little annoying or obnoxious in the gym. Gym bros love to drop the barbell from max height while shouting and growling as they finish their last rep. Or they hog the leg machine while scrolling for the perfect song to pump their thighs to. Or they give unsolicited advice or comments to other gym-goers. Generally, they’re seen as nuisances around the gym, and could use a little etiquette training.
- Either that, or they have perfect gym etiquette, and are privy to unspoken laws of the gym you could never even imagine.
Gym bros can be a little vain. Some gym bros can be very vain. You’ll often see them flexing in the mirror for a quick gains selfie, or getting into bodybuilding poses to check their progress. Who can blame them? If we had bodies that ripped, we’d probably be a little hypnotized, too.
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They’re kind of meatheads. As the old meme says, gym bros do all their studying at the gym, which is to say they’re not often the intellectual types. They come from the same family as frat bros and jocks, and prefer to work up a sweat over puzzling out questions of philosophy.^{[5]
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Research source} The biggest calculations they do is calculating nutritional information and how long it’ll take them to lose their bulk weight.
- Of course, these are all just stereotypes. There are plenty of diehard gym rats who are perfectly pleasant, intelligent, kind, and every other positive quality that anyone else would have.

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Is it bad to be a gym bro?

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Many people find gym bros annoying, or even toxic. It’s a stereotype for a reason. Often, “gym bros” are people you’d rather avoid, or at least that’s the word on the street. People see them as trying too hard, full of themselves, or just plain obnoxious to be around thanks to their obsession with fitness. Generally, you don’t want to be a “gym bro,” if you can help it.
- Some people even say they’re toxic, given the way some gym bros promote unhealthy and unrealistic body and beauty standards, diets, or routines, as well as a warped sense of masculinity.
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Many gym bros are friendly and helpful, or even positive role models. There are plenty of gym bros out there who are kind-hearted and totally chill. These are the guys who come over and respectfully offer tips on your form if you’re doing something dangerously wrong, or cheer you on when you hit a new milestone. These gym bros have a more balanced and nuanced view of fitness, and even if they’re still total fanatics, they’re sensitive to other people’s boundaries.
- Most people at the gym, gym bros included, are just there to get their workout in and go home. Ultimately, it’s not really worth worrying about what someone else is doing.

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What is a “gym influencer?”

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Gymfluencers are like any other influencer, but for the gym. Many of them are on “Gymtok,” or the fitness side of TikTok, and share their workout routines and fitness progress while offering encouragement to their followers to also get fit. Some gymfluencers take sponsorships or brand deals to make money on their content.
Some people say that gymfluencers contribute to toxic beauty standards, as they encourage extreme workout routines that most people don’t have the time, money, or capability for. Others say they promote unhealthy activities, and often share incorrect tips on things like form, diet, and lifestyles that could be outright dangerous. Many gymfluencers also promote unrealistic or toxic beauty standards.
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Not all gymfluencers are bad, though. There are tons of gymfluencers out there who are qualified and invested in sharing genuinely helpful advice and encouragement. Others are just people who want to document their fitness journey online, and have gathered a following while doing it. Still others are fitness enthusiasts and comedians who make fun of the toxic side of gym culture.
- If you’re looking to follow any gym influencers, pay attention to their qualifications. A six pack of abs doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best person to take pointers from.

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Related Fitness Slang

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Lunks Generally, a “lunk” is a dumb person. When used in a fitness context, it refers to someone who’s more muscle than brain. You’ve probably heard this term at places like Planet Fitness, which has a “lunk alarm” that rings whenever someone is trying too hard, and is more annoying than the lunks themselves.
- Example: “I wish these lunks would at least rack the weights when they’re done with them.”
- Example: “He has a PhD, but he hasn’t even touched a book in years. He’s gone full lunk.”
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Gym rats This is very similar to gym bro, and describes someone who spends most of their time at the gym. That said, it doesn’t come with so many negative connotations, aside from the whole “rat” part.^{[6]
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- Example: “The gym rats are always the first people in the weight room, and the last to leave.”
- Example: “My New Year’s resolution is to become a full-time gym rat.”
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Jocks A jock is anyone who fits into the fit and athletic social category. They’re usually people who play or played football or another popular sport in high school, and afterward keep up their fitness in other ways.
- Example: “The prom king is always some jock quarterback.”
- Example: “ Jocks and geeks don’t always mix.”