The Big Bang Theory Actors Jim Parsons (left) and Johnny Galecki as the geeky characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, respectively, in the television comedy series The Big Bang Theory (2007–19). (more) geek Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Roland Martin Roland Martin is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. Roland Martin Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 26, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the origin of the word geek? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The word geek is believed to have derived from the Dutch word gek or the Low or Middle German word geck, both of which meant u201Cfool.u201D" } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did the word geek become associated with technology? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "By the 1980s geek described someone more interested in technology than in socializing. In the 1990s, with the rise of personal computers (PCs), it became a term for those with impressive technical skills, such as computer programmers, hackers, and PC pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How has u201Cgeek cultureu201D influenced mainstream media? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In the late 20th and early 21st centuries geeks featured as major characters in TV shows and films such as The Big Bang Theory (2007u201319). Interests that were formerly considered u201Cgeeky,u201D such as comic books and science fiction, spawned multimillion-dollar movie franchises, making geek culture mainstream." } } ] } Top Questions What is the origin of the word geek? The word geek is believed to have derived from the Dutch word gek or the Low or Middle German word geck, both of which meant “fool.”

　　How did the word geek become associated with technology? By the 1980s geek described someone more interested in technology than in socializing. In the 1990s, with the rise of personal computers (PCs), it became a term for those with impressive technical skills, such as computer programmers, hackers, and PC pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

　　How has “geek culture” influenced mainstream media? In the late 20th and early 21st centuries geeks featured as major characters in TV shows and films such as The Big Bang Theory (2007–19). Interests that were formerly considered “geeky,” such as comic books and science fiction, spawned multimillion-dollar movie franchises, making geek culture mainstream.

　　geek, a word used to describe a person who is socially awkward and unpopular, usually because of the person’s perceived intelligence. This definition entered the modern American lexicon in the mid-20th century and is used somewhat interchangeably with the term nerd. However, geek also has a more positive connotation as a person who has a particular interest in or expert knowledge of a certain field, especially technology. The first known appearance in print of the word geek is found in Capt. John Harland’s A Glossary of Words Used in Swaledale, Yorkshire (1873), where it is listed as “Gawk, Geek, Gowk, ...(100 of 1318 words)

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