noun
Poindexter
POYN-dehks-tuh
noun
1
An informal, often mocking term for someone seen as overly bookish, nerdy, or socially awkward.
"They teased him as a poindexter for always doing extra homework."
How to Use Poindexter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dated, mildly mocking slang term for a nerdy or overly studious person.
When to use it
Informal and somewhat dated slang, mostly heard in American English.
Word Forms
Poindexters plural
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Etymology
From the surname Poindexter, popularized as slang after a bookish, socially awkward character of that name appeared in the 1959 Felix the Cat cartoon.