anorak

noun

an·​o·​rak ˈa-nə-ˌrak 

1

: a usually pullover hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips

2

British, informal : a person who is extremely enthusiastic about and interested in something that other people find boring

Bale's book is scholarly, immensely detailed and aimed squarely at political anoraks.

—The Sunday Business Post

Examples of anorak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are also cotton pullovers in both solids and patterns and an anorak with side zippers. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024

Even Ganni’s signature leopard print is featured on an anorak, and each piece is labeled with an eye-grabbing neon green logo. —Mecca Pryor, Essence, 25 Oct. 2024

Instead, opt for an anorak with a utilitarian feel (and will keep you warm on cooler fall days) and plenty of pockets to hold smaller items like tissues, headphones, hand sanitizer, and lip gloss. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024

For its anorak, for instance, Adidas cinched sleeves with fabric sashes instead of elastic or drawcords. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Norwegian, Danish or German, borrowed from Greenlandic Inuit annoraaq, name for a hooded outer garment originally made of skin; (sense 2) from the alleged popularity of anoraks as outerwear among such people

Note: The word was initially circulated in English through translations of accounts of polar expeditions, particularly those by Fridtjof nansen, who also wrote about the lives and culture of Greenland Inuit.

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1