nerd

noun \ ˈnərd \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Editor's Note: Of nerds, geeks, and dorks

Definition of nerd

: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

computer nerds

… single-minded math and science nerds …
—Anna Quindlen

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nerdiness

play \ˈnər-dē-nəs\ noun

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nerdish

play \ˈnər-dish\ adjective

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nerdy

play \ˈnər-dē\ adjective

See nerd defined for English-language learners

See nerd defined for kids

Examples of nerd in a Sentence

He dresses like a nerd.
was such a nerd in college that she spent Saturday nights at the library

Recent Examples of nerd from the Web

The result isn’t beer just for beer nerds, but beer for wine enthusiasts or whiskey aficionados, and amateurs of all kinds.

— keith flanagan, USA TODAY, "The latest beers are inspired by booze," 12 June 2018
Two of the biggest icons for nerds palling around together is almost too much to handle.

— ryan parker, The Hollywood Reporter, "Mark Hamill and Stan Lee Palling Around is The Best of Both Worlds," 9 June 2018
Chris reached out to CNN big brain -- and election nerd -- Harry Enten to chat about the state of the Senate.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Unpacking the real story behind Republicans' chances at holding the Senate in 2018," 4 June 2018
Up until quite recently, any Asian character who didn't do kung-fu, play a nerd, or wear a kimono felt like a win.

— deanna pai, Glamour, "It's Time to Retire the 'Hairstreak Asian' Trope," 24 May 2018
Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist and unrepentant book nerd, has some suggestions for you.

— michael schaub, latimes.com, "Bill Gates has some summer reading recommendations for you," 22 May 2018
In the video, Witherspoon, 42, and her mom Betty drank sweet tea on a Nashville porch and talked movies, nerds, and sneaking out past curfew.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Reese Witherspoon’s Mama on Enforcing Curfew," 14 May 2018
Comic Book Day Free Comic Book Day is like Record Store Day for comic nerds.

— ed masley, azcentral, "Phoenix local music picks for May: Hogjaw, Technicolors, the Woodworks, Intent, Sunday at Noon," 3 May 2018
For two decades, there have been old-school baseball guys to serve as foils for the math nerds and Harvard Business kids bum-rushing the sport.

— will leitch, Daily Intelligencer, "Baseball’s Very Tepid Offseason Is Finally Over," 21 Mar. 2018

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

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.

Origin and Etymology of nerd

perhaps from nerd, a creature in the children's book If I Ran the Zoo (1950) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1951

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

nerd Synonyms

NERD Defined for English Language Learners

nerd

noun

Definition of nerd for English Language Learners

: a person who behaves awkwardly around other people and usually has unstylish clothes, hair, etc.
: a person who is very interested in technical subjects, computers, etc.