from Star Wars, slang
clanker
Meaning
- A derogatory term for a robot or AI system.
- Used as a general insult toward machines seen as replacing people.
“The delivery clanker blocked the whole sidewalk.”
Where it came from
Coined for droids in the 2005 game Star Wars: Republic Commando, named for the clanking sound they made. Star Wars: The Clone Wars picked it up soon after, and TikTok revived it in July 2025 as a real-world jab at AI and robots.