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.
Reader Comments (57)
Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:37PM darkinchworm said
There goes Joystiq, stirring up fanboys again...
Reply
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 8:40AM (Unverified) said
About Time I get some Respect!!!
/* Sorry for the reply abuse */
Reply
/* Sorry for the reply abuse */
Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM TRTX said
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".
Reply
I suppose the next step is the evolution to the more PC "fanperson".
Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM Goaliegeek said
Or like Seinfeld, not ball boy, ball man! Fanman! (hmmm, im copyrighting that also), hey Stan Lee!
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Posted: Jul 10th 2008 1:26PM (Unverified) said
"...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.
Reply
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.
Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM Goaliegeek said
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!
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM aristokrat said
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"?
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Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM (Unverified) said
I thought it was already a word in the Dictionary?
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Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:51PM (Unverified) said
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...
Reply
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...
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 1:00AM (Unverified) said
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.
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Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:55PM jorojoserojas said
Bud Light Presents:
Real Men of Genius
(Reeeaaal men of geeeniuuuusss)
Reply
Real Men of Genius
(Reeeaaal men of geeeniuuuusss)
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 2:18AM (Unverified) said
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
Reply
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
Posted: Jul 7th 2008 11:56PM (Unverified) said
Webster sucks, they put stupid words in the dictionary to make people think it's cool. Oxford is much better as a real source
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:18AM ChooChooCharlie said
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.
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At least Webster tries to cater to the casual linguist market.
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:38AM (Unverified) said
You have a favorite dictionary?
...Well that's a new one...
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...Well that's a new one...
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:06AM Supermanisdead said
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.
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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.
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 1:05AM (Unverified) said
See: ThePrematureAsshat, Wii60Warrior & ThePerfectCompanion
(All the same guy)
Reply
(All the same guy)
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:55AM spin cycle said
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.
Reply
F! was some of the funniest stuff ever on TV.
Toby Danger ftw.
Posted: Jul 8th 2008 2:30AM SoCoolCurt said
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.
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:29AM 007craft said
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.
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM AUserName said
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.
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 1:06AM (Unverified) said
I think of the comic book guy from the Simpsons when I hear the word fanboy.
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Posted: Jul 8th 2008 7:34AM AwesomeTown said
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?
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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?
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