wonk

Meaning

1. (informal) An overly studious person, particularly a student.
2. (informal) A policy wonk or other intellectual expert.

Synonyms

dweeb

grind

nerd

swot

bookworm

Etymology

American English student slang 1954; perhaps navy slang before that. "Expert" sense popularized in the Clinton administration, 1993. Origin uncertain, possibly from wonky (“shaky, unreliable”) or wank, wanker or simply expressive.