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NERD

What Does Nerd Mean in a Text?

homesearch nNerd

The Quick Answer

A nerd is a highly intellectual, enthusiastic person, often passionate about academics, technology, or niche interests. Once derogatory, it now carries a mix of admiration and self-identification in geek culture.

More Detail...

Nerd is quickly moving away from a word with a negative connotation (i.e., to brand someone as uncool). Recently, nerd has evolved into a more positive term that simply describes someone with a passion for something (i.e., a science nerd, a music nerd, a food nerd). It is even starting to take on a cool edge, and increasingly more people are happy to have themselves labelled as a nerd.
  • Tony: Hey, have you been watching the new series about space?
  • Jordan: No, nerd. I have a social life.
  • (Here, nerd is used with a negative connotation.)
  • Tony: Can you fix my PC please. You're an IT nerd.
  • Jordan: Of course.
  • Tony: You're a star. Thanks.
  • (Here, nerd is used with a positive connotation.)

Image for Nerd

meaning of Nerd

A nerd is someone who excels in a subject deemed to be uncool.

Summary of Key Points

Nerd
Definition:Clever but socially awkward person
Type:Word
Guessability:guessability level 1
1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Nerd

image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board

"Nerd" originated as slang in the 1950s, reportedly first appearing in Dr. Seuss's book "If I Ran the Zoo" (1950) as a made-up creature. It then evolved into slang used at college campuses. The word now exists in a space between slang and standard English, similar to words like "cool" or "awesome" that began as slang but have become accepted parts of everyday language.

Nerd is used as a noun. A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. It functions as a subject, object, or complement in sentences and can be "common" (e.g., dog, passport) or "proper" (e.g., Paris, Christopher). For example:
  • "You are the biggest Maths nerd I've ever met."
  • "The nerd spent hours organizing his collection of science fiction novels."

Example of Nerd Used in a Text

Nerd
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