fanboy

[fan-boi]

noun

1. Sometimes fanboi an obsessive male fan, especially of comic books, science fiction, video games, music, or electronic devices.

   Apple fanboys lined up to buy the new phone.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a male fan) to demonstrate intense excitement at the mention or in the presence of a particular celebrity, film, product, etc., especially one associated with popular culture or technology.

   I don't usually fanboy over optics, but these binoculars are awesome.

Other Word Forms

• fanboying noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanboy¹

First recorded in 1915–20; fan ² + boy

Example Sentences

The English folk scene grabbed hold of Worley at a young age, and when he approached the Zeppelin legend, he didn’t fanboy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The decision of Kevin Roberts, the conservative think tank’s president, to embrace podcaster Tucker Carlson, criticize those who push back on Mr. Carlson’s Jew-baiting and friendly interview with Hitler fanboy Nick Fuentes, and even accuse critics of serving a “foreign government” continues to damage the institution’s reputation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Heritage Foundation leader Kevin Roberts now knows it was unwise to publish a video bear-hugging Tucker Carlson and assailing critics of the podcast host’s chummy interview with Hitler fanboy Nick Fuentes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He tweaked the algorithm honed over decades to favor fanboy cranks who promoted his cars, space colonization dreams and white supremacist fantasies.

Read more on Salon

On Thursday Mr. Roberts released a startling video to oppose the alleged “cancellation” of Tucker Carlson and even of Hitler fanboy Nick Fuentes, whom Mr. Carlson had hosted for a chummy podcast interview.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal