What does zombie mean?
A zombie is a reanimated corpse from folklore, mythology, or fiction, traditionally imagined as mindless, hostile, and endlessly pursuing the living. The word has become especially prominent through horror films, television, books, and other forms of popular culture, where zombies are often associated with outbreaks, social collapse, and overwhelming hordes. The expression can also be used figuratively for someone who seems mentally or physically unresponsive, usually in an informal or humorous way, and in computing for software that continues running without performing useful work. Its unusual history reflects the movement of a Haitian Creole term into English-language accounts of Caribbean folklore and, later, into global entertainment. Today, “zombie” can refer both to a specific supernatural creature and to a broader cultural image of mass danger, loss of agency, and relentless repetition.
nounA reanimated corpse, especially in folklore, mythology, or fiction. By extension, it can refer to a person who is mentally or physically unresponsive, or to software that continues operating without doing useful work.
- A fictional or mythological reanimated corpse, traditionally portrayed as hostile, mindless, and driven by an insatiable appetite.
- A person who is extremely inactive, mentally unresponsive, or behaving as though they have no will of their own.
- A computer program or process that continues to run despite no longer serving a useful purpose.
"The survivors had to barricade themselves before the zombie horde reached the town."
"The film follows a small group of survivors trying to escape a city overrun by zombies."
"During the long meeting, he lay slumped at his desk like a zombie."
"An administrator restarted the server to stop the runaway program from consuming unnecessary resources."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s to the singular noun.
"The movie follows several survivors as they search for a way to stop the zombies."
From Haitian Creole folklore to global horror icon, the zombie has become one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does zombie come from?
The English word “zombie” comes from Haitian Creole, where “zonbi” referred to a supernatural figure in Haitian folklore. The Creole term is generally traced to the Fon language of Benin and Togo, within a West African linguistic and religious background. It entered wider English use through descriptions of Haitian religious and folklore traditions and became strongly associated with horror fiction and film.
How zombie is actually used
The figurative sense is usually informal and often humorous or derogatory. In computing, the term is technical and refers to software that remains active but performs no useful work. British and American speakers generally agree on the meaning but differ in the pronunciation of the first vowel.