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How did the definition of bad change over time? When did it change to mean good?

ThisIsWhat
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Bad has been used to mean good since the 1800s.

The meaning of many, many words in English change over time. Many times they go back to a previous meaning. It's nothing new with the word bad. Another similar example is sick which since roughly the 80s in America has been used to also mean good or excellent.

If you really want to know why in particular bad has been used to mean good, a possible explanation is that many people see dangerous and reckless things as impressive. The thing I linked in the first sentence says how sick was used in skate culture to mean something good because risk and danger are considered good in that culture.

  • I wouldn't completely dismiss your "why" part, but I think in most cases it's just that slang has a general tendency to adopt "meaning reversal" usages - which is why you'll also often hear an exasperated "Well that's good, innit?" in the UK (where an earlier generation might have said "That's another fine* mess you've gotten us into!"*). – FumbleFingers Aug 06 '14 at 22:47
  • You're right, @FumbleFingers. I just wanted to give something besides it just happens a lot. –  Aug 06 '14 at 22:49
  • I don't know why someone downvoted you. I didn't vote at all because so far as I was concerned the Q is a dup anyway. But have my +1 to counteract injustice, 'cos even if your "possible explanation" doesn't often apply, it is specific to the particular word being queried here (I was just referring to the more general tendency). – FumbleFingers Aug 07 '14 at 01:41
  • Thank you ☺️. The post I linked is general enough that I saw a small chance this wouldn't be closed—given a decent edit—so I answered it anyway. –  Aug 07 '14 at 02:46