Top Definitions
Quiz
Related Content
Examples
British

nerd

[ nurd ]

/ nɜrd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for nerd on Thesaurus.com

noun Slang.

a person considered to be socially awkward, boring, unstylish, etc.

an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

VIDEO FOR NERD

Why Are There So Many Different Kinds Of Nerds?

Not all nerds are created equally. And that's why there are a lot of different nerd names floating around out there that you may want to know about—or that may describe you.

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Sometimes nurd .

Origin of nerd

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; obscurely derived expressive formation

historical usage of nerd

See geek.

Words nearby nerd

Neptunian, neptunium, neptunium series, neral, NERC, nerd, nerdic, nerdy, nereid, nereis, Nereus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nerd in a sentence

I thought only Hollywood actors or meteorology nerds were allowed to chase tornadoes.
My Week Shadowing a Tornado Hunter in Oklahoma|Linda Logan|September 10, 2020|Outside Online
This one’s a real language nerd book, and it’s going to be incredibly fun to talk about.
This September, the Vox Book Club is reading Elif Batuman’s The Idiot|Constance Grady|August 28, 2020|Vox
As digital marketing nerds, we love data and analyzing trends.
Google search trends: People are in search for connection during the lockdown|Russell Welch|August 20, 2020|Search Engine Watch
There was an old nerd from the ’Tute Who outgrew his snazzy red suit.
Virtual Tech Challenge|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

This time, apparently with some time on his hands, he set about building a pretty great new website for local politics nerds.
Politics Report: Bry, Lawson-Remer Dominate Fundraising|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|August 8, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Nerd Cruise By Adam Rogers, Wired What 800 Nerds on a Cruise Ship Taught Me About Life, the Universe, and Snorkeling.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 22-28, 2014|William Boot|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In one of the most distressing events of the year, nerd entitlement hit 100.
10 Things That Made Us Want to Turn Off the Internet Forever in 2014|The Daily Beast|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being mad about growing up an embittered, socially isolated nerd.
From Socially Isolated Nerd to Jeopardy! Bad Boy: A Thank You Note|Arthur Chu|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this big box that encloses him is only an exaggeration of his regular nerd-dandy clothes.
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession|Pauline Kael|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For some nerd-industry journalists, this is more than they can bear.
All Hail Shingy, AOL’s Goblin King|James Poulos|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was gaunt and tall and geeky and talked like an engineer, with the nerd accent.
Makers|Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for nerd

nerd

nurd

/ (nɜːd) /

noun slang

a boring or unpopular person, esp one obsessed with something specifieda computer nerd

a stupid and feeble person

Derived forms of nerd

nerdish or nurdish, adjectivenerdy or nurdy, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012