Slang dossier

Stan

Pronounced stan

An especially devoted fan, or the act of strongly supporting an artist, creator or character. The word comes from Eminem’s song “Stan,” but current use is not automatically a claim of obsession.

In a sentence

How it sounds

Illustrative examples

  • “I stan that band’s new album.”
  • “Their fans have a whole stan account.”

Where teens use it

The habitat

Music fandom, character edits, fan accounts and debates about celebrities.

Parent briefing

What parents should know

Fandom can be creative and social. Look for boundaries around harassment, personal information and spending. Supporting an artist does not require defending every action or attacking critics.

Keep decoding

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