zombie
/ˈzɒmbi/
NOUN
1. A reanimated dead person
A deceased person who is brought back to life through supernatural or unnatural forces, typically depicted as lacking independent thought or will and sometimes attacking the living.
1.1. Undead creatures in folklore and horror fiction
Refers to a reanimated corpse or undead human portrayed in folklore, horror stories, films, and games as a creature without normal consciousness or free will.
Synonyms
- undead
- living dead
- walking dead
- animated corpse
- revenant
Antonyms
- living person
- living being
- human being
Examples
- The survivors barricaded themselves inside the building, hoping to avoid the relentless onslaught of zombie hordes.
- In the Halloween costume contest, she won first place for her incredibly realistic zombie makeup and attire.
- The movie depicted a group of friends attempting to escape a city overrun by zombies.
Related Words
- ghoul
- vampire
- wraith
- apparition
- phantom
- corpse
- cadaver
- resurrection
- necromancy
1.2. A supernatural being controlled by magic
Refers to a person believed in voodoo and related traditions to have been restored to life or deprived of independent will through supernatural practices.
Synonyms
- reanimated corpse
- animated dead person
- undead person
Examples
- According to the folklore, the zombie was controlled by a powerful sorcerer.
- The story describes a person transformed into a zombie through supernatural rituals.
Related Words
- voodoo
- Haitian folklore
- sorcery
- enchantment
- spell
- supernatural power
- necromancy
NOUN
2. An apathetic or mentally exhausted person
A person who appears lifeless, unresponsive, or lacking energy, enthusiasm, and awareness, often because of extreme fatigue or emotional exhaustion.
2.1. Apathetic and unresponsive behavior
Describes someone who behaves mechanically or without enthusiasm, emotion, or apparent interest in their surroundings.
Synonyms
- automaton
- drone
- robot
- puppet
- dullard
Antonyms
- enthusiast
- vibrant person
- lively person
- active individual
Examples
- After months of repetitive work, he felt like a zombie, performing every task without enthusiasm.
- She sat through the entire meeting like a zombie, barely responding to anyone.
Related Words
- apathy
- indifference
- passivity
- listlessness
- detachment
- mechanical behavior
2.2. Extreme mental exhaustion
Describes a person who is so tired or sleep-deprived that they struggle to concentrate, respond normally, or remain mentally alert.
Synonyms
- exhausted person
- walking wreck
- sleepwalker
Antonyms
- energetic person
- alert person
- refreshed person
Examples
- After working a double shift, he felt like a zombie and could barely keep his eyes open.
- The students looked like zombies after staying up all night studying for their exams.
Related Words
- fatigue
- sleep deprivation
- burnout
- mental exhaustion
- drowsiness
- brain fog
NOUN
3. A computer process that has terminated
A computer process that has finished executing but remains in the process table because its parent process has not collected its termination status.
3.1. Defunct processes in operating systems
Refers to a terminated process that remains listed in the operating system's process table, usually awaiting acknowledgment from its parent process.
Synonyms
- defunct process
- terminated process
Examples
- The system administrator discovered a zombie consuming an entry in the process table.
- The program left several zombie processes after its parent process failed to collect their exit statuses.
Related Words
- process table
- parent process
- child process
- process ID
- operating system
- process management
- Unix
- Linux
NOUN
4. A malware-controlled computer
A computer infected with malicious software that allows an attacker to control it remotely without the owner's knowledge.
4.1. Compromised computers in botnets
Refers to an infected computer that has been secretly recruited into a network of compromised devices and can be controlled by an attacker.
Synonyms
- bot
- compromised computer
- infected computer
Examples
- The security team discovered that several office computers had become zombies in a criminal botnet.
- The malware turned the infected device into a zombie that could be controlled remotely.
Related Words
- botnet
- malware
- computer virus
- trojan
- remote access
- cyberattack
- cybersecurity
NOUN
5. A rum-based cocktail
A mixed alcoholic drink typically made with rum and fruit juices, often containing several varieties of rum and other flavorings.
5.1. Mixed tropical alcoholic drinks
Refers to the Zombie, a potent tropical cocktail traditionally prepared with rum, fruit juices, and other ingredients.
Synonyms
- rum cocktail
- tropical cocktail
Examples
- The bartender prepared a classic zombie with a blend of rums and tropical fruit juices.
- The cocktail menu featured a zombie among its selection of traditional tiki drinks.
Related Words
- rum
- cocktail
- fruit juice
- tiki drink
- grenadine
- tropical drink
- mixology
NOUN
6. A person without conscious experience
A hypothetical being that appears and behaves exactly like an ordinary human but lacks subjective consciousness or inner experience.
6.1. Philosophical thought experiment
Refers to a hypothetical philosophical entity, often called a philosophical zombie, that behaves like a conscious human but has no subjective awareness or phenomenal experience.
Synonyms
- philosophical zombie
- p-zombie
Antonyms
- conscious being
- sentient being
Examples
- The philosopher used the concept of a zombie to explore whether consciousness could be separated from physical behavior.
- In the thought experiment, the zombie responds like a human despite lacking subjective experience.
Related Words
- consciousness
- sentience
- qualia
- subjective experience
- philosophy of mind
- phenomenal awareness