Yeah like kraut9 said the meaning can be applied to pornography and is explicit in that way. However, it can be used to show strong loyalty to something such as a 'hardcore golfer'. He is a hardcore golfer. (He shows great loyalty for golf) The term can also be used sarcastically although I think this is more of a youth thing :S The following is an example. Person 1 "I go to bed late" Person 2 "You're hardcore" Hope that helps :)

personally i don't use hardcore commenly.. but when i do i use it to describe someone that likes something a lot... a hardcore rocker hardcore anime fan

(I'm hardcore,,,). It means that I tolerate painful physical or psychological stimuli. I found this explanation in an american TV show, (lol).

I often describe myself as a "hardcore geek", this doesn't have anything to do with porn. If people ask me what I do, I usually just say "fix computers", because it's too complicated to explain otherwise.

I use this word too... and I never use it in reference to porn! Peachey is right again here!!! ps. it's a good word to know. I would estimate that I use it about once every three or four weeks. It's definitely not an "everyday word"!