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# npc

abbreviation (NPC, NPCs); noun (an NPC)

«npc» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (games) Short for "non-player character": a character in a video game controlled by the computer, not by a player. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#m1)
2. (slang, rude) An insult for a person who seems boring, follows the crowd or does not think for themselves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used by gamers: shopkeepers, villagers and guards in games are often NPCs who repeat the same lines. Among teenagers, calling someone an "NPC" is an unkind insult. Phrases: "talk to the NPC", "NPC behaviour".

### Examples

- Talk to the NPC in the village to get your next quest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x1)
- The NPC kept saying the same line over and over. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x2)
- In Minecraft, villagers are NPCs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x3)
- That NPC sells potions and swords. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x4)
- "Stop acting like an NPC!" he said, which was mean. (slang) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x5)
- Some NPCs in the game help you, others attack you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/#x6)

### Note

Say each letter: "en-pee-see"; "an NPC" (because "N" sounds like "en"). Plural "NPCs". The insult is unkind, like calling someone a robot.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «npc» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/npc/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«npc» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/npc.html) on Mova free.