noun
Common
stan
stan
Stan (noun) means an extremely obsessive fan of a celebrity, group, or franchise, especially one whose devotion crosses into unhealthy territory. Example: “He is such a stan that he queued overnight for her concert tickets.”
noun
1
An extremely obsessive fan of a celebrity, group, or franchise, especially one whose devotion crosses into unhealthy territory.
"He is such a stan that he queued overnight for her concert tickets."
"Fans called him a stan after he defended the singer in every comment thread."
"I am the biggest stan for Selena because she is my queen. She made Disney interesting and I have always watched her."
— , Selena Gomez: She Is My Queen (2013)
"K-pop stans have been getting increasingly involved in American politics in recent months. After the Trump campaign solicited messages for the president’s birthday on June 8, K-pop stans submitted a stream of prank messages."
— , TikTok Teens and K-Pop Stans Say They Sank Trump Rally (2020)
"“Stans will literally go to any extent to defend anyone,” he said of Mr. Depp’s supporters, adding: “Amber Heard, she has not got that fan base.”"
— Ezra Marcus, Johnny Depp Case Brings Stan Culture Into the Courtroom (2022)
"Online stans flooded her replies the moment she posted the announcement."
verb
1
Slang: to be an obsessive fan of someone or something.
"I stan that author and have read every book she has written."
"They stanned the band so hard that they travelled to every tour date."
"She openly stans the boy band and owns every piece of their merchandise."
How to use stan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA super-devoted fan, or (as a verb) to be one.
When to use it
Very informal internet slang, mostly used on social media and in fandom communities.
Common pairings
I stan
K-pop stan
stan account
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Word forms
- Plural
- stans
- Third person singular
- stans
- Past tense
- stanned
Fill the gap
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He is such a _____ that he queued overnight for her concert tickets.
Etymology
From the title of Eminem's 2000 song "Stan," about an obsessive fan named Stan; some also read it as a blend of "stalker" and "fan."
Related words
Rhymes for stan
See all rhymes for stan →Frequently asked questions
What does “stan” mean?
The word “stan” means an extremely obsessive fan of a celebrity, group, or franchise, especially one whose devotion crosses into unhealthy territory. In plain terms, a super-devoted fan, or (as a verb) to be one.
How do you pronounce “stan”?
“Stan” is pronounced stan (/stæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “stan” in a sentence?
Here is “stan” used in a sentence: “Online stans flooded her replies the moment she posted the announcement.”
What part of speech is “stan”?
Depending on how it is used, “stan” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stan” come from?
The word “stan” dates back to around 2000. From the title of Eminem's 2000 song "Stan," about an obsessive fan named Stan; some also read it as a blend of "stalker" and "fan.".
Is “stan” a common word?
“Stan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stan” have?
“Stan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an extremely obsessive fan of a celebrity, group, or franchise, especially one whose devotion crosses into unhealthy territory.
Where does the word stan come from?
Stan is widely credited to the 2000 Eminem song "Stan," which tells the story of a fan whose obsession with the rapper turns destructive. The character's name came to stand for any extremely devoted fan, and the word later entered major dictionaries as both a noun and a verb.
Is calling someone a stan an insult or a compliment?
It depends on context. The original sense is negative, describing a fan whose devotion crosses into unhealthy obsession, but in modern internet slang people cheerfully call themselves stans and say "we stan" to show enthusiastic approval. Tone and intent decide whether it reads as playful or mocking.
What is the difference between a stan and a fan?
A fan admires a celebrity, group, or franchise; a stan takes that devotion to an extreme, following everything the object of their fandom does and often defending them fiercely online. All stans are fans, but only the most obsessive fans are stans.
How is stan used as a verb?
As a verb, stan means to be an obsessive or extremely enthusiastic fan of someone or something. It is usually transitive, as in "I stan that band," and it also appears alone in the set phrase "we stan." The verb is informal internet slang and out of place in formal writing.
