NPC means Non-Player Character. It's mostly used in casual online conversation. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
NPC
Non-Player Character.
/npiː-siː/Documented since 2010s2010sGen Ztrending731 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~2010 · no dated citations yetSeen in the wild
Firecrawl: NPC (meme) - Wikipedia
# NPC (meme) NPC (meme) Insult implying a lack of critical thinking This article is about the internet meme.
View source
Firecrawl: Non-player character - Wikipedia
There is some debate about how much work a gamemaster should put into an important NPC's statistics; some players prefer to have every NPC completely defined with stats, skills, and gear, while others define only what…
View source
Firecrawl: NPC - Wikipedia
If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/NPC&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
View source
Definitions
Global
+389100%
#1·Apr 24, 2026GlobalCasual
Non-Player Character. Insult aimed at someone perceived as having no original thoughts — just running pre-programmed dialogue. "He literally just repeats what his feed tells him." From video-game terminology for scripted background characters; weaponized in political Twitter discourse.
"Said ‘you too' to the waiter saying ‘enjoy your meal.' Full NPC moment."
Origin: Internet meme culture, 2010s–2020s.
For parents
NPC means Non-Player Character. It's mostly used in casual online conversation. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
For ESL learners
"NPC" is slang. It means: Non-Player Character. Register: casual. Use it in: casual conversation and online posts. Avoid in: formal writing and professional emails.
Cluster: stupid
Heard in the wild
“# NPC (meme) NPC (meme) Insult implying a lack of critical thinking This article is about the internet meme.”
“There is some debate about how much work a gamemaster should put into an important NPC's statistics; some players prefer to have every NPC completely defined with stats, skills, and gear, while others define only what is immediately necessary and fill in the rest as the game proceeds.”
“If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/NPC&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.”
Was this helpful?
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Used in
Global
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "NPC".
Related vocabulary
Antonyms
See also
Compare with…
Head-to-head pages explaining the difference.
🌐About Internet & Memes slang
Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.
See all Internet & Memes slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "NPC" (N)
no word of a lieno worriesnowtno wucking furriesno yap zoneNPnpc arcnpc checknpc codednpc corenpc energynpc mode
Browse all slang words starting with N.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- non-player character79%
(Internet slang, pejorative) A person who does not think for themselves nor make their own decisions.
- npc coded75%
NPC coded describes someone whose entire vibe screams background character — not in a mean way, just observationally. They give generic answers, laugh at the right times, and never steer the conversation anywhere unexpected. NPC coded people are the human equivalent of filler dialogue. The '-coded' suffix signals that it's baked into their personality rather than a passing mood. It's distinct from being boring — someone can be NPC coded and perfectly pleasant, they just feel procedurally generated. Often used with affection as much as shade.
- non-player character72%
(role-playing games, video gaming) A character in a role-playing game or computer game whose actions are not controlled by a player.
- NTM60%
(internet slang) , referring to insults or criticism.
- PC shaming59%
(Internet slang, politics) An act in which a user intimidates or harasses another into changing their personal opinions because they do not consider them politically correct enough.