Covidian is a new term and its broadest meaning is anything related to or typical of the Covid-19 pandemic. It can refer to someone who follows all the health directives and mandates. The term is listed in the Urban Dictionary and here are three definitions:
Definition #1: “A Covidian is someone who lived through the global Covid-19 pandemic, starting in January 2020
-She was a Covidian. She survived the Covidian era.
-They met in the Covidian crisis.
-He hoarded toilet paper in the Covidian era” (Cosgrove)
Definition #2: “A person who identifies with COVID-19, or is obsessed with COVID-19 ‘prevention’ measures.
-Look at this Covidian wearing his mask while driving his car alone.
-This Covidian attempted to argue that health is more important than freedom. Little did the Covidian know, health requires freedom” (_Correct_ Definitions_).
Definition #3: “a child born during the COVID pandemic
-I was born as a result of the pandemic shut down of March 2020, therefore I am a Covidian” (Monocle77).
GREETINGS COVIDIANS is the name of a visual research project at Florida International University which looks at and analyzes personal experiences during the pandemic. It is led by the Research Network for Health and Society (REACH) The project is featured in an online article written for FIU entitled: “Greetings, Covidians: Seeing COVID-19 through fresh eyes” (Lederman). To participate, visit https://www.greetingscovidians.net/ and submit an anonymous photo with a caption that explains how you’re experiencing the pandemic. The picture can be taken inside your home or in a pubic place. Your submission forms part of a digital gallery.
Here’s a YouTube video from Dr. Z’s called “Covidians vs Covidiots.” Dr. Z encourages people to find middle ground so they don’t become too casual or too cautious about coronavirus.
Social Media Trends as of May 4, 2022
Facebook #covidian: people are posting about this
Instagram #covidian: 672 posts
TikTok #covidian: 48,600 views
YouTube #covidian: less than 100 videos and channels
Google Trends: covidian appeared in December 2019 and achieved peak popularity April 2020.
Sources
“Covidian.” The Urban Dictionary. May 27, 2020 URL: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Covidian.
“COVIDian” – Word Sense Online Dictionary. 4th May 2022. URL: https://www.word
sense.eu/COVIDian/.
Dr. Z. “Covidiots Vs. Covidians? An Alt-Middle View.” Dr Z. YouTube. ZDoggMd. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZIJ0ekD_HE.
Lederman, David. “Greetings, Covidians: Seeing COVID-19 through fresh eyes.” Florida International University. July 15, 2020. URL: https://news.fiu.edu/2020/greetings,-covidians-seeing-covid-19-through-fresh-eyes.