geek

noun

ˈgēk 

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

geekiness noun

geeky

ˈgē-kē 

adjective

Did you know?

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. The usage of nerd is now often used in a neutral fashion to denote enthusiasm or expertise (theater nerd) or proudly as a self-identifying trait (word nerd). Geek became synonymous with nerd in the 1950s and has similarly seen increasing use with positive connotations, showing membership in a specialized group (film geek, beer geek) rather than social awkwardness. In its earliest meanings, geek 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.

Synonyms

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

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

His new visual guide to the Marvel Universe is packed with colorful infographics and trivia designed for both hardcore comics geeks and casual fans alike. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024

Louie’s patients include a doctor, a rabbi, a tech geek and a drug dealer, and all of them are recurring characters in the series. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2024

After more than 10 years of serving students, young professionals, food-and-beverage workers, geeks, wastoids and dweebies in the heart of Montrose, the celebrated coffee shop has opened a spot in the lobby of the 18-story Two Memorial City Plaza, at 820 Gessner Rd. —Timothy Malcolm, Chron, 11 Oct. 2024

The San Jose event was hosted at the Computer History Museum, which, as venues go, was absolutely on-brand and appropriate—and Ars would like to extend its thanks to the folks at CHM for being so kind and accommodating to our gathering of geeks. —Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing geek

• geek out