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
People Are Reading
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
-
Baseball stat nerds, not missing a beat, immediately credited it with a launch angle of 29 degrees and an entrance velocity of 62 mph.
-
He might be best remembered for playing jock Stanley Gable in 'Revenge of the Nerds'.
-
The contest is a high-profile, high-pressure endurance test as much as a nerd spelling match.
-
Serious cooks who revere produce; adventurers; foragers; design nerds — purely as an object, the book is stunning; and, well, definitely Mads Refslund, with whom Fox shares more than the usual chef’s disdain for waste.
-
Once upon a time, math geeks and computer nerds were considered totally uncool, what with their slide rules, pocket protectors and astonishing ability to get bonked in the nose with a fly ball to right field.
-
Like cosplay, the furry trend came out of nerd culture.
-
The people who made this animated scifi comedy are masters of nerd fan service.
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)
First Known Use: 1951
NERD Defined for English Language Learners
nerd
playDefinition 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.
NERD Defined for Kids
nerd
playDefinition of nerd for Students
1 : a person who is socially awkward, unattractive, or not fashionable
2 : a person who is extremely interested in technical or intellectual subjects
nerdy
\ˈnər-dē\ adjectiveLearn More about nerd
-
See words that rhyme with nerd Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nerd Spanish Central: Translation of nerd Nglish: Translation of nerd for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nerd for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up nerd? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!