Otaku in japanese is used primarily to describe someone who is obsessed with something to the point of un-healthiness. They lose their grip on reality so to speak. 'Gun-Otaku,' one who is obsessed with guns. 'porn-otaku,' one obsessed with porn. so on and so forth. The american meaning, maybe its used else where to...I dunno. any way, otaku over here is someone who likes anime a wwhhoollee lot, though they normally lead a normal life (unlike jap. otaku). Not really a bad term, though many see it as such.
No example. Its self explanitory.
by Kiwi Lord July 2, 2003
Get the otaku mug.
Japanese word meaning obsessive fan of anything.Somewhat derogatory meaning that you put your interest above all else. Westerners tend to use it without the derogatory connotations. Rather, an otaku is someone who is a dedicated fan of anime and/or manga.
Example? Example? Example?
by Liam March 2, 2005
Get the otaku mug.
William Gibson, one of the originators of the 'cyberpunk' science fiction genre, used the term "otaku" in his 1996 novel "Idoru". The meaning given, from a Japanese-translation computer function used by a character, was 'pathological techno-fetishist with social deficit'. The character so described spent much of his time online in a multi-user domain and subsisted on Ramen-type noodles and canned coffee. Although by Japan's rigorous social standards a "loser", the character was well-mannered and good-hearted.
"The otaku guys at my last school were into, like, plastic anime babes, military simulations, and trivia. Bigtime into trivia." -"Idoru", William Gibson
by Heather Cruikshank October 11, 2005
Get the otaku mug.
The Japanese word "Otaku" is the meaning of a nerd. Later on, people such as the anime fandom use the term for people who watch anime. The reason why they put otaku as a anime lover because back in the days, people use to make fun of people who watch anime and call them "weeaboo" but then they called them selves "Otaku" so that they can hide the shame of being a weeb.
Sora: "hey dude what's up?"
Minori: "Nothing much Sora-tan b-baka, but I just got a SUGOI collection of anime! I also got a body pillow of my favorite waifu UWU! I love my waifu Chizuru so much, aishteru Chizuru-kun~!"
Sora: "Your such a fricking weeaboo bro-"
Minori: "YAKAMASHI, ITO SHIZO, I'M NOT A WEEABOO OR ANYTHING BAKA; I'M A OTAKU! A PROUD ONE OKAY Y-YAMAETE KUDASAI~!"
by Potato_tomato_desu April 13, 2021
Get the Otaku mug.
If you call yourself "otaku" and you're not a young Japanese person, odds are you're a weeaboo.
by ElMitchoBandito June 22, 2017
Get the otaku mug.
A negative Japanese word meaning 'nerd,' which anime-lovers have embraced and turned into a positive word defining a person who likes anime.

However, anime-lovers sometimes tend to cross the line, falling deeply into otaku characteristics themselves.
1. That kid's such an otaku; all he ever talks about is Dragon Ball Z and video games.
2. Dude, have you seen Naruto? Oh I love anime! I'm a total anime otaku! Kawaii!
by Chii April 30, 2004
Get the otaku mug.
A fucking weeb who Ioves everything Japanese
Jimbo: You know Timmy over there he’s a fucking otaku

George: I know that! Have you seen what he’s wearing?
by The Otaku man May 28, 2020
Get the Otaku mug.