non-player character
In gaming, a 'non-player character' or 'NPC' is a character whose actions and dialogue are controlled by the game itself rather than a human player.
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Definition
B2Video Games
(technical)A character in a video game controlled by the game's programming rather than by a human player.
Example
- The shopkeeper in the game is a non-player character who sells items to the player.
B2Role-Playing Games
(technical)A character in a role-playing game managed by the game master or the game's rules, not by a player.
Example
- The dungeon master introduced a non-player character to guide the adventurers.
C1Internet Slang
(informal, derogatory)A person who is perceived as lacking independent thought or decision-making.
Example
- Some internet users refer to people who follow trends without question as non-player characters.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "non-player character":