stan

1 of 2

noun

ˈstan 

plural stans

slang, often disparaging

: an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan

On the drama side, Game of Thrones returns after its own year off, but for an abbreviated season that even the most die-hard Westeros stans seemed lukewarm about.

—Alan Sepinwall

In a 2007 interview, J. K. Rowling opened up about Albus Dumbledore's sexuality and confirmed that the Hogwarts patriarch is, in fact, gay. The revelation has been a subject of fodder among Potter stans for years.

—Christopher Rosa

stan

2 of 2

verb

stanned; stanning; stans

transitive + intransitive

slang, often disparaging

: to exhibit fandom to an extreme or excessive degree : to be an extremely devoted and enthusiastic fan of someone or something

I stanned pretty hard for Christina [Aguilera] as a teen; I remember begging my mom for tickets to the Justified/Stripped tour, and even from our nosebleed seats, Christina's voice was stunning.

—Alexandra Fiber

Pop fandom has historically been embodied by the screaming white girl. But the rise of queer men "stanning" for pop divas signals the growing power of fan perspectives outside the straight white norm.

—Pier Dominguez

… she has even admitted that she stanned her beau's music before they were romantically linked.

—Hollywoodland

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from Stan, name of such a fan in the song "Stan" (2000) by the American rap artist Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III)

Verb

derivative of stan entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

2000, in the meaning defined above

Verb

2008, in the meaning defined above