'Fanboy' gains respect, enters Merriam-Webster dictionary

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 7th 2008 at 11:30PM }

The word defining folks over at Merriam-Webster Inc. have added "Fanboy," along with 100 other words, to the newest edition of its Collegiate Dictionary*. Fanboy is actually one of the "oldest" of the "new" words, with its origins dating back to 1919. The wordsmiths define fanboy as a "boy who is an enthusiastic devotee, such as of comics or movies." Fanboys should feel free to write with self-righteous fury to MW and let them know it can also apply to video games ... tell them you'll never read their dictionary again if they don't correct this grievous oversight (also make an online petition).

This isn't the first time in recent memory some bit of gaming culture seeped its way into the good word book at Merriam-Webster; "w00t" became the company's word of the year in 2007. So, w00t to all the fanboys out there, the dictionary acknowledges your existence.

*OSX users will find the Dictionary widget, which uses The Oxford American Dictionary, already defines "fanboy." Merriam-Webster is a different company.

Tags: dictionary, fanboy, merriam-webster, merriamwebster

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

dark_inchworm @ Jul 7th 2008 11:37PM

There goes Joystiq, stirring up fanboys again...

Fanboy @ Jul 8th 2008 8:40AM

About Time I get some Respect!!!

/* Sorry for the reply abuse */

Maverick Saturn @ Jul 7th 2008 11:40PM

Lol at fanboys.

RoboChamp @ Jul 7th 2008 11:41PM

Next thing you know they'll want to vote.

Kevlar @ Jul 8th 2008 12:52AM

Sweet hair

samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:13AM

Barack Obandicoot '08!

Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM

OMG YES. I will now use Fanboy in a paper for college lol. For a sub heading Sony fanboy: Picture of me. I looked at some of the words they added. not that great. Some of them are two words with a space between them look I can make a new word. I guess there are words already like that. more like titles, but nevertheless Banana paper. Paper made of banana. hmmm. Im copyrighting that!

NukeAssault @ Jul 7th 2008 11:53PM

Do it and then scan the grade you get. =D

sp @ Jul 8th 2008 12:50AM

but you already said "grade you get = D".

chispito @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM

The dictionary is full of slang, but that doesn't mean you want to put it in an academic paper.

T @ Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM

In all seriousness, "fanboy" is a dirty word. There's never any thing good that comes from its use. Also, the association stritcly with "boy" is kinda pointless, since it's used for both genders.

I suppose the next step is the evolution to the more PC "fanperson".

Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM

Or like Seinfeld, not ball boy, ball man! Fanman! (hmmm, im copyrighting that also), hey Stan Lee!

Wutzizname @ Jul 10th 2008 1:26PM

"...the police engaged in heavy combat with several armed gunpersons as they were coming out of the bank..."

Say that without laughing.

But they do need to open it to Fanboy and Fangirl, as I've heard both, but the first time I ever heard 'Fanboy' it was in a Lobo comic, in like...'92.

Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:45PM

BTW, whats the status of "truthiness"?

aristokrat @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM

Or for that matter, where's "goatse"? Hasn't that been around since the rise of the internet? Would it be "an indescribable display of the innermost parts of a man's anus"?

Roto13 @ Jul 8th 2008 1:33AM

Goatse isn't defined for the same reason Harrison Ford isn't defined. It's a name.

Dwag @ Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM

I thought it was already a word in the Dictionary?

ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 7th 2008 11:51PM

Fuck Yes!

To all the haters...you're really just jealous cuz deep down you care as much as we do but are afraid to admit it.

Fanboys are what make this site run...

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:00AM

There is a difference between being a fanboy and being a complete tool. There is no such thing as an anti-Sony fanboy which is what you are. You are more known for being an obnoxious idiot who always gets banned and rants against Sony for no rhyme or reason. I think you are really more of a rambling idiot than a fanboy.

j.howlett @ Jul 7th 2008 11:52PM

now we can say someone is a "text book" example of a fanboy and mean it. you know who you are, don't be shy. come on out. today is your day fanboy. we salute you.

PSN & GAMERTAG: jorojoserojas - Wii FC: 0749-8609-3752-6926 @ Jul 7th 2008 11:55PM

Bud Light Presents:

Real Men of Genius
(Reeeaaal men of geeeniuuuusss)

colin @ Jul 8th 2008 2:18AM

mr. talktrashanonymouslyoninternetfoOORUMS!

go ahead, disregard common sense and pull no punches ... because you know that everything you say is completely validated by your own opinion.

mr. talktrashanonymouslyoninternetfoOORUMS!

-i think its a winner

theturtle363 @ Jul 7th 2008 11:56PM

Webster sucks, they put stupid words in the dictionary to make people think it's cool. Oxford is much better as a real source

j.howlett @ Jul 8th 2008 12:00AM

dictionary fanboy?

ChooChooCharlie @ Jul 8th 2008 12:18AM

Yeah, but then Oxford is all like "I'm the steak of the dictionary world" and "You should take out a second mortgage to afford me."

At least Webster tries to cater to the casual linguist market.

theturtle363 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:34AM

mmm, now i want a book steak

Sam406 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:38AM

You have a favorite dictionary?

...Well that's a new one...

Superstar90 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:06AM

For me there is a difference between fanboy and troll. I know they may seem synonymous, but I have made a clear line for myself.
Fanboy: Someone who cares about 1 thing (system) and only that one, devoting their time to it and not bother with others.
Troll: Like a fanboy, but spend much more time bashing other things/systems.
Like the Joystiq "Fanboy" sites, they are fanboys but they never (almost never) troll the other systems.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:05AM

See: ThePrematureAsshat, Wii60Warrior & ThePerfectCompanion

(All the same guy)

samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:19AM

I'm about 99% sure Wii60Warrior is not the same as PerfectCompanion.
Wii60Warrior was a straight up angry jerk. TPC just hates on Sony.

therpham @ Jul 8th 2008 12:24AM

Freakazoid! was so awesome.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 8th 2008 12:55AM

Freakazoid not only made fun of fanboys before it was cool, it made fun of Jack Valenti a decade before it was cool.

F! was some of the funniest stuff ever on TV.

Toby Danger ftw.

NBK @ Jul 8th 2008 1:09AM

Reminder - Season 1 of Freakazoid hits DVD shelves at the end of the month :D

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 8th 2008 1:33AM

Thanks NBK! I didn't know that.

I'm all over it.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jul 8th 2008 2:30AM

dude i loved Freakazoid. i used to go over to my friends house and watch it all the time, he was completely obsessed with it. a 'fanboy' if you will.

Mr Khan @ Jul 8th 2008 3:04PM

"Now, you can either spend 30 years in jail, or 30 minutes with Fanboy"

"Lock me up and throw away the key!"

LameDuck @ Jul 8th 2008 12:28AM

*rubs hands together, menacingly* Good... good...

007craft @ Jul 8th 2008 12:29AM

I dont get why people call each other fanboys. It seems to have directly evovlved into a video game term. A nerd towards anyt other product or catagory is simply refered to as a "fan" yet with games its fanboy. Makes no sense. Im an xbox fan, not an xbox fanboy, thank you.

LameDuck @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM

The line between you stop being a fan and start being a fanboy when ignorance and blind hatred/love becomes your basis for arguments. IE: I love the 360 because it's made by MS and they are the bomb, yo. Everything MS does is GOLD! OR I love the PS3 because the PS2 was cool and Sony loves me so much.

Zoesch @ Jul 8th 2008 12:30AM

Fernando, Copa and Name123, this one is for you... congrats, you deserve the honor.

ThePerfectWii60WarriorCompanion, nope, not for you!

Truffled @ Jul 8th 2008 12:47AM

Oh THANK GOODNESS they didn't spell it fanboi.

Residentevil72501 @ Jul 8th 2008 1:03AM

Ever been to a club where people Wee on each other? ... Ya want to?

samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM

Wee? No. The clubs I go to, the substance is usually a bit thicker and gooey than wee.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:06AM

I think of the comic book guy from the Simpsons when I hear the word fanboy.

TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:14AM

Worst Comment Ever.

giantenemycrab @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM

Grant @ Jul 8th 2008 1:32AM

anyone else find it funny that w00t managed to beat fanboy into the dictionary?
good thing l337 didn't beat it there, that would just be too much.

AwesomeTown @ Jul 8th 2008 7:34AM

Oh my god, I'm not really a fan of this helen person. It's all I've seen this morning. I don't even want to reply directly to them.

Oh, and on topic. If we can add words that people use to the dictionary, can't we get rid of the words that people don't? Like acquiescence and tatterdemalion. Seriously, do people use those words?