geek
geek Lexical Profile
geek Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who is intensely enthusiastic, knowledgeable, or obsessive about a particular subject, hobby, or technical field, especially computing, science, or pop culture.
"As a self-proclaimed film geek, she could recite the director's entire filmography in chronological order."
An unfashionable, socially awkward, or overly intellectual person.
"In high school he felt like an awkward geek, but in college he quickly found a welcoming community of fellow engineers."
North American A carnival sideshow performer who engages in bizarre or grotesque acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken or snake.
"The novel's protagonist hits rock bottom when he takes a job as a carnival geek in a traveling sideshow."
• verb
To express or indulge in intense enthusiasm, excitement, or specialized discussion about a particular topic (usually followed by "out").
"The two historians spent the entire afternoon geeking out over newly digitized medieval manuscripts."
Word Nuance & Usage
While historically derogatory, "geek" is now widely used as a badge of pride for passionate subject-matter enthusiasts, often distinguished from "nerd" by emphasizing intense fandom or specialized hobbyism rather than purely academic or social awkwardness.
• Rhymes for geek
Word Origin & Etymology
Originally a variant of the dialectal British word "geck" (meaning a fool or simpleton), derived from Low German "geck" and Middle Dutch "gec". In early 20th-century American carnival slang, it came to denote a sideshow performer before shifting in the late 20th century to describe technology and hobby enthusiasts.