Nerd

Nerd is a noun often used as an insult, to describe people who are viewed as weird, obsessive or introverted.

Origin

Dr. Seuss created the word "nerd" in his 1950 children's book If I Ran the Zoo. In the book, the main character says he'll collect various fictional animals to put in an imaginary zoo, including “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a seersucker too”. By 1951, people were using the word as a synonym for "square," which was a popular pejorative and slang word at the time, according to a Newsweek article.

Use over time

By the 1960's the phrase "nerd" came to mean someone who was intelligent but strange and unlikable, especially if this person were interested in science-fiction. It was used throughout the United States and even in Scotland.

In the 1970's the word "nerd" was routinely used on the television sitcom Happy Days. As a result, use of the word became extremely popular throughout the United States. In 1984, a movie called Revenge of the Nerds used comedy to provide social commentary.

A number of fictional characters have been described as nerds, including Dilton Doiley, Peter Parker, Milhouse Van Houten and Hermione Granger.

People labeled as nerds tend to be bullied in school more often than others are.