nerdy

[ nur-dee ]

adjective

, nerd·i·er, nerd·i·est.

1. Slang. of or like a nerd.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nerdy¹

First recorded in 1975–80; nerd + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Friends described him as a nerdy perfectionist.

From Los Angeles Times

“I got rejected from McDonald’s and Burger King,” he says, laughing in a sweetly nerdy way, remembering applying for summer jobs in New Jersey as a teen.

From Los Angeles Times

The concept is so intriguing and delightful, it has spawned the crab meme, which swept some little nerdy part of the internet a few years ago and with it, a wacky speculation that we are all going to evolve into crabs one day.

From Salon

I remember lining up for hours to see Burton’s "Batman" as a gawky sixteen-year-old in 1996, when nerdy was truly nerdy, not a front-handed compliment.

From Salon

Many worried about being ostracised as "nerdy" if they appeared too invested in their education.

From BBC

Related Words

• bookish
• contemplative
• diligent
• earnest
• industrious
• reflective
• thoughtful