poindexter

noun

poin·​dex·​ter ˈpȯin(t)-ˌdek-stər How to pronounce poindexter (audio)
variants or Poindexter
plural poindexters or Poindexters
US, informal
: a person with intellectual or academic interests or pretensions
"We have this picture of data scientists as these Poindexters in lab coats … "Matt West
Because, as the head of a team of poindexters from Hewlett-Packard and U.C.L.A., this 37-year-old chemistry professor is a leading figure in the whiz-bang field of nanotechnology …James Wolcott
He's an absolute swot, but shares his knowledge generously with the rest of the class, unlike those Poindexters I tried to copy from …Tony Squires
especially : nerd
Any self-respecting poindexter knows to carry an eyeglass repair kit with those tiny screwdrivers to tighten a loose earpiece. Jason Tanz
… The Simpsons boasts such an impressive array of geeks, dweebs, nerds, poindexters, doofuses and socially maladjusted malcontents … Nathan Rabin

Word History

Etymology

from Poindexter, boy genius who wears a lab coat and mortarboard hat in the television cartoon series Felix the Cat (1959-60)

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poindexter was in 1981

Dictionary Entries Near poindexter

Cite this Entry

“Poindexter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poindexter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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