geek
- a digital-technology expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as self-reference, but often used disparagingly by others).
- a person who has excessive enthusiasm for and some expertise about a specialized subject or activity: a foreign-film geek.
- a peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, or socially awkward.
- a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.
- to be overexcited about a specialized subject or activity, or to talk about it with excessive enthusiasm (usually followed by out): I could geek out about sci-fi for hours.
Origin of geek
Word story
In the first half of the 20th century, geek was the word for a circus sideshow performer who bit the heads off small live animals. Geeks were meant to put on horrifying spectacles for the normal people in the audience. Through what linguists call “semantic drift” (gradual change in meaning), a slang use of geek emerged in the popular culture of the 1980s to designate a newly marginalized group: smart and tech-savvy—but socially awkward—young enthusiasts of emerging computer technologies.
The term nerd in the second half of the 20th century similarly described an unpopular, overly intellectual young person who was interested in science or math. The stereotypical high school or college nerd was picked on by the stereotypical jock and never stood a chance with the pretty, popular girl. Nerds were not considered cool.
But in the 21st century, both words evolved to become nearly synonymous, and labels no longer to be ashamed of. Twenty-first century geeks and nerds are smart people of all ages (and genders) who are well-informed and care passionately about something. Though often an expert in technology, science, or math, a nerd or geek can be a specialist or fan of almost any subculture imaginable: a French-cuisine geek or a Jane Austen nerd .
Today these labels are not predominantly used to stigmatize. What changed? First, mainstream pop culture embraced science fiction toward the end of the 20th century. Sci-fi was no longer a private niche of films and comic books, known only to fans of the genre. Films like 2001: A Space Odyssey , Alien , and Star Wars became common cultural touchstones. Also, computer technology infiltrated almost every aspect of 21st-century life. The specialists in that technology, once belittled for their interests, became valued and pivotal members of society. Further, the Internet has helped people to find like-minded peers who share otherwise specialized and possibly isolating interests, connecting and creating thriving communities.
Geek and nerd , terms with a painful and exclusionary history, are not always appropriate labels to force on someone else. However, they are increasingly used by people to refer to themselves and others in reappropriated and validating ways. When used to mean specialist or enthusiast, geek and nerd need not be considered offensive labels at all.
Examples from the Web for geek
Contemporary Examples
Every geek in the Free Culture movement had the idea for Kickstarter years before Kickstarter actually existed.
Death of the Author by Viral Infection: In Defense of Taylor Swift, Digital DoomsayerArthur Chu
December 3, 2014
And the geek, Lionel (Tyler James Williams), is a closeted gay who finds himself alienated by blacks and whites.
‘Dear White People’: How An Ex-Publicist’s Twitter Became One of the Year’s Most Important FilmsMarlow Stern
October 30, 2014
And Nanjiani, the side-burned and suave 36-year-old, is a geek icon.
Eventually, Cardonna decided to launch Geek Therapy, a website about how geek culture is “saving the world.”
With his slight frame and tasteful Jew-fro, Seth was the anti-heartthrob who launched a nationwide trend of “geek chic.”
From ‘Mean Girls’ to ‘Clueless’: Pop Culture’s Best Back-to-School-LessonsAmy Zimmerman
October 1, 2013
Historical Examples
Did you run into a geek named Gorkrink, while you were on Nif?
Uller UprisingHenry Beam Piper, John D. Clark and John F. Carr
"Yes, geek ingratitude's an old story to all of us," Blount agreed.
Uller UprisingHenry Beam Piper, John D. Clark and John F. Carr
As far as that goes, you know what the geek name for a Terran is?
Uller UprisingHenry Beam Piper, John D. Clark and John F. Carr
It was a geek accent, and it made you sound like a smart-ass instead of a sharp operator.
Makers</p>Cory Doctorow
When a geek prince hired out as a laborer for a year on Niflheim, he did so for only one purpose—to learn Terran technologies.
Uller UprisingHenry Beam Piper, John D. Clark and John F. Carr
geek
- a person who is preoccupied with or very knowledgeable about computing
- a boring and unattractive social misfit
- a degenerate
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for geek
n.
"sideshow freak," 1916, U.S. carnival and circus slang, perhaps a variant of geck "a fool, dupe, simpleton" (1510s), apparently from Low German geck, from an imitative verb found in North Sea Germanic and Scandinavian meaning "to croak, cackle," and also "to mock, cheat." The modern form and the popular use with reference to circus sideshow "wild men" is from 1946, in William Lindsay Gresham's novel "Nightmare Alley" (made into a film in 1947 starring Tyrone Power).
"An ordinary geek doesn't actually eat snakes, just bites off chunks of 'em, chicken heads and rats." [Arthur H. Lewis, "Carnival," 1970]
By c.1983, used in teenager slang in reference to peers who lacked social graces but were obsessed with new technology and computers (e.g. the Anthony Michael Hall character in 1984's "Sixteen Candles").
geek out vi. To temporarily enter techno-nerd mode while in a non-hackish context, for example at parties held near computer equipment. [Eric S. Raymond, "The New Hacker's Dictionary," 1996]