geek

noun

\ ˈgēk

How to pronounce geek (audio)

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Definition of geek

1 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked

2 : an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity computer geek

3 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

Other Words from geek Synonyms Of Nerds, Geeks, and Dorks More Example Sentences Learn More about geek

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Synonyms for geek

Synonyms

bookworm, dink [slang], dork [slang], grind, nerd, swot [British], weenie, wonk

Of Nerds, Geeks, and Dorks

Dork, when used to refer to a socially awkward or inept person, is a relatively recent word: our records indicate that it first appeared in writing in the 1960s. Two of its synonyms in this sense are likewise of fairly recent vintage. Nerd (typically used of a studious species of dork) dates from the 1950s; it was coined by Dr. Seuss in his 1950 book If I Ran the Zoo, although not in the sense that we use today. Geek became synonymous with nerd in the 1950s. Prior to this, the word referred to, among other things, a carnival performer who would bite the head off a live chicken, or other small animal, as part of an act.

Examples of geek in a Sentence

He was a real geek in high school. was quickly stereotyped as another computer geek

Recent Examples on the Web

This year's swag pile is full of high-value geek goodies. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, "Enter for a chance to win consoles, smartwatches, and more in the 2018 Ars Charity Drive," 19 Dec. 2018 This might sound like so much jargon important only to bond market geeks. — Matt Phillips, The Seattle Times, "Stocks slide as bond market sounds a recession warning," 4 Dec. 2018 Record store geeks shouldn’t miss Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, where artists often play release shows in the stacks (615-254-4801, grimeys.com). — Sarah Rodman, BostonGlobe.com, "The music lover’s ultimate guide to visiting Nashville," 15 Mar. 2018 Image The geek in me loves the tsunami of fine details flooding the page, written in the breezy style of a rising star millennial scientist. — Ira Flatow, New York Times, "When the Dinosaurs Reigned," 29 May 2018 Beer and Robertson-Dworet have become go-to scribes for studios seeking geek and genre cred. — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Captain Marvel,' 'Chaos Walking' Writers Tackle Silver Sable/Black Cat Movie (Exclusive)," 13 Feb. 2018 Others: The 99-person witness list is star-studded, if your universe revolves around geeks and inventors. — Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle, "Waymo vs. Uber trial to shine light on Silicon Valley culture," 3 Feb. 2018 Science geeks, inventors, and creative kids (and adults) lose track of time nerding out on all the exhibits. — Jenna Scatena, Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Things to Do in Seattle," 16 May 2018 Then there's the renowned geek, gamer, and web series star Felicia Day. — Bryan Lufkin, Popular Mechanics, "Can Mystery Science Theater 3000 Thrive in an Age of Snark?," 14 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'geek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for geek

geek

noun

English Language Learners Definition of geek

chiefly US, informal

: a person who is socially awkward and unpopular : a usually intelligent person who does not fit in with other people

: a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular field or activity

See the full definition for geek in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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WORD OF THE DAY

writhe

to move or proceed with twists and turns

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