zombie

pronunciation

How to pronounce zombie in British English: UK [ˈzɒmbi]word uk audio image

How to pronounce zombie in American English: US [ˈzɑmbi] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force
    (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body
    a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies
    someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way
    several kinds of rum with fruit juice and usually apricot liqueur

Word Origin

zombie
zombie: [19] Zombie was originally the name of a snake-god in the voodoo cult of West Africa, and later of the Caribbean, and it comes from a West African language (it is related to Kongo nzambi ‘god’ and zumbi ‘fetish’). It was later applied to a reanimated corpse in the voodoo cult, and a ghoulish sense of humour transferred the English word in the 1930s to a ‘catatonically slow-witted person’.
zombie (n.)
1871, of West African origin (compare Kikongo zumbi "fetish;" Kimbundu nzambi "god"), originally the name of a snake god, later with meaning "reanimated corpse" in voodoo cult. But perhaps also from Louisiana creole word meaning "phantom, ghost," from Spanish sombra "shade, ghost." Sense "slow-witted person" is recorded from 1936.

Example

1. As of press time , zombie delusions remain undiagnosed .
2. Have you ever witnessed a zombie workplace outbreak ?
3. Call on daryl to go spelunking in a zombie stomach .
4. A zombie parade passes through frankfurt , germany .
5. If so , how is your zombie story coming along ?

more: >How to Use "zombie" with Example Sentences