Editing Nerd (section)

{{improve images|date=February 2025}}
{{short description|Descriptive term}}
{{Other uses}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
A '''nerd''' is a person seen as overly [[intellectual]], [[Fixation (psychology)|obsessive]], [[Extraversion and introversion|introverted]], or lacking [[social skills]]. Such a person may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, little known, or non-mainstream activities, which are generally either highly technical, abstract, or relating to niche topics such as [[science fiction]] or [[fantasy]], to the exclusion of more mainstream activities.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Nerd?r=75&src=ref&ch=dic "Nerd | Define Nerd at Dictionary.com"], "Dictionary.com, LLC" 2011, accessed May 13, 2011.</ref><ref>nerd, n. [[Oxford English Dictionary]] online. Third edition, September 2003; online version September 2011. First included in Oxford English Dictionary second edition, 1989.</ref><ref name=webster>{{Citation |url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerd |access-date= 2011-11-23 |title= Definition of NERD |work= [[Merriam-Webster]] |year= 2011 }}</ref> Additionally, many so-called nerds are described as being [[Shyness|shy]], [[Eccentricity (behavior)|quirky]], [[pedant]]ic, and [[physical attractiveness|unattractive]].<ref>{{Cite journal |doi= 10.2307/2112783 |title= From nerds to normals: The recovery of identity among adolescents from middle school to high school |author= DA Kinney |year=1993 |pages=21–40 |journal= Sociology of Education |volume= 66 |issue=1 |jstor= 2112783 | issn=0038-0407}}</ref>

Originally [[derogatory]], the term "nerd" was a [[stereotype]], but as with other [[pejorative]]s, it has been [[Reappropriation|reclaimed]] and redefined by some as a term of pride and group identity.<ref>{{Cite journal |title= Nerds and Geeks: Society's Evolving Stereotypes of Our Students With Gifts and Talents |author= Tracy L. Cross |year=2005 |journal= Social/Emotional Needs |volume= 28 |issue=4 }}</ref> The term may be considered a synonym for [[geek]].