# otaku

/oʊˈtɑku/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/otaku
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

a person who is very interested in a particular hobby, especially Japanese animation, comics, or video games. While it started as a word for fans who stay inside too much, many people now use it to show they are proud of their hobbies.

For teachers: a person with an obsessive interest in a particular hobby or subculture, most commonly associated with anime, manga, and gaming. Originally pejorative in Japanese context, the term has been reclaimed by international fan communities as a neutral or positive self-identifier.

## Examples

- He is a total otaku who spends all his money on anime figures.
- The convention center was filled with thousands of otakus dressed as their favorite characters from recent manga series.
- Sociologists have studied the otaku phenomenon to understand how digital subcultures provide a sense of belonging and identity in increasingly atomized urban environments.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a loanword from Japanese; can be used as a noun or as a modifier before another noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.