A Star Wars slang term has slipped out of the fandom, and it's going viral as one of the biggest memes on TikTok right now.

The term is "clanker," and it's been a meme among Star Wars fans for years. Now, it's being used as a catch-all insult against robots an AI.

So, what is a clanker, and what does clanker mean? Here's what you need to know.

What Does 'Clanker' Mean?

In the Star Wars universe, "clanker" is a slang term used in reference to droids. Presumably, it's a reference to the way droids, who are made of metal, "clank" when they move. The term has been used in numerous examples of Star Wars media over the years, including video games and TV series.

Notably, the term was first used in the 2005 video game Star Wars: Republic Commando by the character Sev. One of the character's voice lines has him say, "lousy clanker," in reaction to a droid. The term was then used in the first episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series in 2008 with the line, "Okay clankers, eat lasers."

How Is 'Clanker' Used In Memes?

In memes, the term "clanker" is often portrayed as a slur in the Star Wars universe. Some of the most viral memes about the term have droids reacting negatively after being called the term.

Other examples show human or alien characters calling droids clankers in a way that really highlights how aggressive the word can sound in the right context.

"Clanker" memes first started becoming popularized on subreddits like /r/PrequelMemes between 2018 and 2019 and kept proving popular throughout the 2020s.

In late June 2025, the term was popularized through memes on TikTok as a general slur towards robots and AIs. The term took off when a video of someone calling a delivery robot a "clanker" went viral, inspiring a wave of memes calling robots clankers.

Some of the most viral memes include comedy skits about daughters bringing their robot boyfriends home, only for their dads to call them clankers.

What Are Some More 'Clanker' Memes?

@nicoholm13 #fyp ♬ in the yo – STU

@ayekay_ Ain’t no clanker entering my home #fyp #clanker #clankers #ai #chatgpt #robots ♬ Piano famous song Chopin Deep deep clear beauty – RYOpianoforte

@coopermitcchell These clankers am I right #skit #meme #edit #clanker ♬ original sound – coopermitcchell

@budgetlift_bros Good for nothing #starwars #clankers #clonewars #starwarsclonewars #starwarscloneswars #fyp #fypage #fypシ ♬ Battle of the Heroes (From "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith") – Robert Ziegler

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For the full history of Clankers, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.