Pwn

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To thoroughly defeat or outplay an opponent in a game or competition, typically with skill and dominance
2. To beat someone soundly in a contest or match, often in a way that is particularly impressive or embarrassing to the loser
3. To decisively overcome and dominate an adversary, demonstrating superior ability or strategy

Etymology: The word is a deliberate-sounding typo that stuck. "Pwn" comes from "own," and the most common explanation is that it was born out of a typographical error: the "o" and "p" sit next to each other on the QWERTY keyboard, so a player hitting the letters too quickly could type "pwn" instead of "own." Gamers, who were typing fast and often in a hurry, let the mistake stand, and it took on a meaning of its own. In that sense, "pwn" is a slang variant of "own," used to mean to defeat, dominate or humiliate an opponent, especially in video games. The accidental spelling gave the word a playful, deliberately mocking tone that the original lacked. Because the spelling was never corrected into standard English, it has remained a distinctly online term.

Synonyms: dominate, defeat, conquer

Antonyms: lose, fail