'Stan' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary 17 years after Eminem's hit song
Beliebers have two things they can credit Eminem for today: Justin Bieber's current hairstyle and coining the term that helped usher in today's high organized and powerful fandom culture. Stan is now officially in the Oxford English Dictionary.
It's defined as, "An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity." It can be used as a verb, too, as in, "I know Eminem is a rap god, but I really stan for Dido."
The term originated from Eminem's song, Stan, about a dangerously obsessed fan. It's since been softened and incorporated in the fandom vernacular to describe a particularly devoted fan of an artist. Members of Rihanna's Navy, the Bey Hive, Arianators, Directioners all self-identify as stans.
If anyone knows what obsessive fans of Dido call themselves, please alert me immediately. Didolizers?
Topics Music
Tricia Gilbride was a Reporter for Mashable Watercooler. Tricia focused on the intersection of celebrity culture and the Internet. Previously, she worked as a fashion writer and a social media manager. She also edits Women-Artists.org, a blog and annual print publication, and looks exactly like her cat.
