Word
weirdo
US/ˈwɪɹdoʊ/
UK/wˈiədəʊ/
Definitions
01an eccentric person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. someone who behaves or dresses in a way that you think is very strange.
n. a person whose behaviour, appearance, or interests are perceived as eccentric or socially non-conforming. Often used with a derogatory or dismissive tone.
“Some weirdo on the bus was talking to himself and wearing a winter coat in July.”
“While some viewed the artist as a harmless eccentric, others dismissed him as a total weirdo who lacked any sense of social decorum.”
Antonyms
02a creepy or dangerous person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · Slang
n. a strange person who makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
n. a person whose unusual behaviour is perceived as unsettling, creepy, or potentially threatening.
“She didn't want to walk home alone because there was a weirdo hanging around the park.”
“The security guard was instructed to keep an eye on any weirdos loitering near the entrance after the building had closed for the evening.”
Usage
Often used with the indefinite article 'a' or 'some' to refer to a stranger.
Etymology
From weird + -o (“person with characteristic”). The earliest documented usages date to the early 1950s in the United States. The similar Scottish word "weirdie" (also referring to an odd, unconventional person) is attested from earlier, in 1887.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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