default dance
/dɪˈfɔːlt dæns/
CommonThe basic starter emote in Fortnite. Doing it means you're a new or uncool player.
Can be affectionate, cringy, or self-aware depending on who's doing it. Doing it unironically in public is the meme.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | killed him and default danced on his body. he left immediately. | Taunted a player after eliminating them and they rage-quit. | reddit, 2018 |
| 02 | my little brother did the default dance at my graduation. i am not okay. | A younger sibling did the Fortnite dance during a formal event. | x, 2019 |
| 03 | still wearing default skin doing the default dance in 2024 unironically. respect. | Someone is playing Fortnite with no cosmetics and the basic emote, treated as commitment to the bit. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | teacher asked who finished the test first and this kid stood up and default danced | A student celebrated finishing a test with the Fortnite dance. | x, 2018 |
Use it when
- Referring to the specific free emote in Fortnite.
- Taunting someone after beating them.
- Referring to the irl meme of doing the dance in public.
- Calling someone a noob or basic player.
Do not use it when
- You mean a specific purchased emote.
Origin and context
The default dance emote launched with Fortnite Battle Royale in 2017. By 2018 it had become one of the most recognized dances in pop culture, with kids and celebrities performing it in real life.
- First seen
- 2017
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/default-danceUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0