passifan

English

Etymology

Blend of passive ‎ fan

Noun

passifan (plural passifans or passifen)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A fan, particularly of science fiction, who watches and reads the genre but does not actively engage in fanac, or fan activity.
   • c. 1944, Forrest J Ackerman, Fantasy Flanguage:

     Passifan: The "unawakened" Fan, interested now only in reading the magazines and books; not yet participating in any activities.

   • 1948 December, J. Harmon, Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 33, number 2:

     I learned that last phrase from a femme passifan Miss Marlene Maples.

Antonyms

• actifan

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “passifan”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 145.