Phrase guide

non-player character

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A character in a role-playing game or computer game whose actions are not controlled by a player.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: roleplaying games

Topics: video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: player character

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who does not think for themselves nor make their own decisions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, derogatory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From non- + player character.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: personatge no jugador — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Chinese Mandarin: 非玩家角色 (fēi-wánjiā juésè) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Finnish: NPC — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Finnish: ei-pelaaja-hahmo — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Finnish: ei-pelaajahahmo — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • French: personnage non-joueur (PNJ) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • French: ordi — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • German: Nicht-Spieler-Charakter (NSC or NPC) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Indonesian: karakter nonpemain — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Italian: personaggio non giocante (PNG) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Polish: bohater niezależny (BN) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Portuguese: non-player character (NPC) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Portuguese: personagem não jogável — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Romanian: personaj non-jucător — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Russian: неигрово́й персона́ж (neigrovój personáž) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Spanish: personaje no jugador — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Spanish: personaje no jugable — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Swedish: spelledarperson (SLP) — character in a role-playing game or computer game
  • Ukrainian: неігрови́й персона́ж (neihrovýj personáž) — character in a role-playing game or computer game