stan

A stan is an extremely devoted fan, and to stan someone is to support them with that kind of intensity. The word comes from Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan,” about an obsessed fan, but today it is mostly used affectionately.

What does stan mean?

Stan works as a noun and a verb. As a noun, a stan is a superfan who follows every release, defends their favorite online and knows details casual fans don’t. As a verb, “I stan” means “I love and fully support,” and people use it for anything from pop stars to a brand of crisps.

Merriam-Webster added both senses in April 2019, defining a stan as an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan.

How to use it

• “I’ve been a stan since their debut.”
• “We stan a queen who answers her fan mail.”
• “Stan Twitter found the clip within minutes.”
• “Honestly? I stan this café’s cinnamon rolls.”

Where it comes from

Eminem’s song “Stan” (2000) tells the story of a fan whose obsession turns dark. Fans later borrowed the name to describe intense fandom, at first with a hint of that obsession and later more playfully. Many people also hear it as a blend of “stalker” and “fan,” though the song is the real source. The word became especially big on Twitter and in K-pop fandom, where whole online communities are known as “stan Twitter.”

Stan vs. fan

Every stan is a fan, but not every fan is a stan. A fan enjoys someone’s work. A stan is invested: streaming on release day, voting in polls, and jumping into arguments on their behalf. Depending on tone, “stan” can still suggest someone has gone a bit too far.

Related terms

• bias: your favorite member of a group
• anti-fan: the opposite, someone who campaigns against a celebrity
• fan cam: fan-shot performance video
• ship: wanting two people to be a couple
• chronically online: spending so much time online it shows

See more terms like this in our K-pop slang dictionary.