# weirdo

/ˈwɪɹdoʊ/ (US) · /wˈiədəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weirdo
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. an eccentric person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who behaves or dresses in a way that you think is very strange.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a creepy or dangerous person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a strange person who makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Some weirdo was shouting at the pigeons in the park.
- He didn't want to be seen as the office weirdo, so he kept his unusual hobbies to himself.
- While the term is often used to marginalise those who do not conform, some subcultures have reclaimed it as a badge of pride for their unique perspectives.

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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.