pocket protector
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A white-collar technical worker such as a scientist or engineer, especially in military and space applications; a nerd or someone with a nerdy job.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It was a pocket-protector paradise, its culture defined by the HP way: paternal, collaborative, entrepreneurial, community minded and inconspicuous.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “pocket protector” mean?
A white-collar technical worker such as a scientist or engineer, especially in military and space applications; a nerd or someone with a nerdy job.
Is “pocket protector” formal or informal?
pocket protector is generally slang.