canthal tilt

English

Etymology

Popularized during the 2010s in incel forums. The term gained further popularity in mid-2023 on TikTok after a user created a filter that draws a line showing one's canthal tilt.

Noun

canthal tilt (countable and uncountable, plural canthal tilts)

1. (chiefly medicine or incel slang) The tilt of a line drawn from the outer corner (the lateral canthus) to the inner corner (the medial canthus) of one's eyes; a lower inner corner is referred to as a positive tilt while a lower outer corner is referred to as a negative tilt.
   • 2008 January, Andrew P. Trussler, Rod J. Rohrich, “MOC-PS^SM CME Article: Blepharoplasty”, in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, volume 121, number 1S, →DOI, page 2:

     The lateral canthal position is normally 2 mm superior to the medial canthal position (i.e., a positive canthal tilt). A negative lateral canthal tilt may indicate descent of the lateral canthus from disinsertion, laxity, or the presence of a prominent eye.

   • 2010, Basil M Hantash, Hayes B Gladstone, “An algorithm and review of blepharoplasty and canthopexy”, in Expert Review of Dermatology, volume 5, number 4, →DOI, →ISSN, page 480:

     When viewing the eye en face, the lateral canthus should rest superior to the medial canthus. This canthal tilt varies between males and females. In men, it is approximately 2 mm, yet in females this difference is up to 4 mm. This canthal tilt is considered aesthetically pleasing and contributing to a perception of alertness.

   • 2023 June 7, Ruchira Sharma, “Women Want One Thing in Men, and It's 'Hunter Eyes'”, in VICE‎^[1], archived from the original on 2023-06-13:

     Despite the fact that he is universally fancied by almost every woman on the internet, Timothee Chalamet's negative canthal tilt would land him firmly in "prey" territory.

   • 2023 August 5, Mary Connelly, “What is a canthal tilt?”, in The US Sun‎^[2], archived from the original on 2023-08-13:

     Some have said that "it is over" for people who have negative canthal tilts.

   • 2023 August 7, Joseph Allen, “Some Incels Are Bummed About Their Canthal Tilt and Talking About It on TikTok”, in Distractify‎^[3], archived from the original on 2023-08-09:

     As SurfiaMD's video points out, though, human diversity is beautiful, and there is no perfect recipe for good looks. What people find attractive is as varied as people themselves are, and it doesn't make a ton of sense to explain all your problems by analyzing your canthal tilt. In all likelihood, it has very little to do with whether you're getting laid or not.

See also

• hunter eyes
• prey eyes

 

Further reading

• Comparison of positive and negative canthal tilt
• “canthal tilt”, in Urban Dictionary, launched 1999.