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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Stonks

Stonks is an internet meme and slang term that deliberately misspells “stocks.” It is used humorously or ironically in discussions of investing, financial mistakes, and meme-stock trading, often alongside the character Meme Man.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Stonks is an internet meme and slang term that deliberately misspells “stocks.” It is used humorously or ironically in discussions of investing, financial mistakes, and meme-stock trading, often alongside the character Meme Man. The meme became widely recognized online in the late 2010s and saw renewed prominence during the 2021 GameStop trading surge.

Origin

Sources place the meme’s emergence in 2017, with early use connected to a Facebook post by Special Meme Fresh featuring Meme Man and a stock-market-style graphic. The term spread through meme culture as a humorous misspelling of “stocks”.

Meaning and usage

“Stonks” is used to signal irony, satire, or a jokingly simplistic view of finance. It often appears in posts about profit, losses, speculative trading, or situations where someone appears to misunderstand money or markets.

Meme Man connection

The meme is strongly linked to Meme Man, a surreal 3D head character that appears in many internet memes. In stonks images, Meme Man is typically shown in a suit in front of a chart or market graphic.

Mainstream popularity

The term became especially prominent in 2021 as social-media-driven trading in GameStop and other companies drew major attention. It has since remained a recognizable shorthand in online finance humor.

Key facts

  • “Stonks” is an intentional misspelling of “stocks.”
  • The meme is commonly associated with Meme Man, a surreal internet character.
  • It is often used to mock poor financial decisions or exaggerated confidence in investing.
  • The term gained wider attention during the 2021 GameStop and meme-stock trading frenzy.
  • The meme is part of broader internet humor that uses deliberate misspellings for irony.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers encounter “stonks” mainly through global internet culture, especially on social media, investing forums, and meme communities. It is also relevant in discussions of retail investing and meme stocks that circulate in Canada as well as the United States.

Frequently asked questions

What does “stonks” mean?
It is a deliberate misspelling of “stocks,” used jokingly or ironically in financial contexts.
Where did the stonks meme come from?
Sources trace it to 2017 online meme culture, commonly linked to a Facebook post by Special Meme Fresh featuring Meme Man.
Who is the “stonks guy”?
The “stonks guy” is Meme Man, a surreal 3D internet character often used in the meme.
What is the meme used for?
It is used to mock poor financial decisions, joke about investing, or comment on financial hype and losses.
Did stonks become more popular during GameStop trading?
Yes. It received renewed mainstream attention during the 2021 meme-stock and GameStop trading boom.

References

  1. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/stonks
    Supports: Defines stonks as slang for stocks and notes its humorous, ironic use.
  2. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/stonks-stocks-meme-words-were-watching
    Supports: Describes the term as a 2017 meme and notes its prominence during the GameStop trading episode.
  3. Know Your Meme — https://www.knowyourmeme.com/memes/stonks
    Supports: Describes the meme’s meaning, the Meme Man association, and its origin in 2017.
  4. Business Insider — https://www.businessinsider.com/stonks-meme-origin-stocks-dogecoin-gamestop-hold-line-memes-game-2021-1
    Supports: Explains the meme as a misspelling of stocks and discusses its rise in online financial discourse.