anorak
A heavy weatherproof jacket with an attached hood; a parka or windcheater.
Seen in the wild
That’s not Chris! That’s the Anorak. TOTALLY different unconnected real people both.
Anorak" is a British slang term which refers to a person who has a very strong interest, perhaps obsessive, in niche subjects.
The words anorak and parka have been used interchangeably, but they are somewhat different garments.
A parka, along with the related anorak, is a type of coat with a hood, that may be lined with fur or fake fur.
Definitions
A heavy weatherproof jacket with an attached hood; a parka or windcheater.
Don't ever use the hood on your anorak; and, if you do, for heaven's sake don't pull the string tight so that you peep out like a little baby in a siren suit.
“Anorak" is a British slang term which refers to a person who has a very strong interest, perhaps obsessive, in niche subjects.”
“The words anorak and parka have been used interchangeably, but they are somewhat different garments.”
“A parka, along with the related anorak, is a type of coat with a hood, that may be lined with fur or fake fur.”
Comments
(UK, slang) A person with an unusual or obsessive interest in a niche subject, especially trains.
Anorak means: A person with an unusual or obsessive interest in a niche subject, especially trains.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
anorak means: A person with an unusual or obsessive interest in a niche subject, especially trains.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
“That’s not Chris! That’s the Anorak. TOTALLY different unconnected real people both.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Semantically related
- cagoule68%
(UK, Irish) A lightweight waterproof parka.
- anorak core68%
Anorak core is the aesthetic of unashamed niche enthusiasm — the visual language of cardigans, overstuffed bookshelves, handwritten index cards, well-worn technical manuals, and cups of tea going cold because you got distracted reading about locomotive classifications. It's not performative nerdiness or geek chic trying to be cool; it's the genuine article, with all the specific, slightly chaotic warmth that implies. Anorak core spaces feel lived-in by someone who cares deeply about something that most people don't know exists. It's cosy, cerebral, and entirely comfortable with itself — which is, ironically, making it very appealing online.
- anorak check67%
An anorak check is a moment when someone pauses to acknowledge — or gets called out for — going full obsessive nerd mode. Borrowed from the format of 'vibe check' and 'nerd check', it functions as a lighthearted audit: are you currently deep in a Wikipedia rabbit hole about train timetables? Are you reciting bus route facts nobody asked for? Anorak check. It can be self-applied (a person catching themselves mid-lecture) or aimed at a friend who's clearly gone too deep on their niche interest. The check isn't necessarily a diss — anoraks often wear the label as a badge of honour.
- anorakish67%
(British, informal) Obsessively absorbed in a subject, especially an unusual or obscure subject.