zombie

noun zom·bie \ ˈzäm-bē \

variants: or less commonly zombi

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of zombie

1 a : a will-less and speechless human (as in voodoo belief and in fictional stories) held to have died and been supernaturally reanimated

b : the supernatural power that according to voodoo belief may enter into and reanimate a dead body

2 a : a person held to resemble the so-called walking dead; especially : automaton

b : a person markedly strange in appearance or behavior

3 : a mixed drink made of several kinds of rum, liqueur, and fruit juice

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zombielike

or zombie-like play \ˈzäm-bē-ˌlīk\ adjective

- … a morning rush of zombielike office workers, all starved for caffeine and clamoring for cappuccino.
- —Bob Filipczak

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zomboid

play \ˈzäm-ˌbȯid\ adjective

- This is a poetry eerily populated with ghosts and mummies and zomboid creatures who go on living though dead from love.
- —Patrick McGarth

See zombie defined for English-language learners

See zombie defined for kids

Examples of zombie in a Sentence

If I don't go to bed early I'll be a zombie tomorrow.
His students usually sat there in the classroom like zombies.

Recent Examples of zombie from the Web

While zombies roam the big and small screen, real death has returned to our streets, building walls, vehicles, and even bodies.

— david sloane, BostonGlobe.com, "Is the cemetery dead?," 12 May 2018
Well, that elderly neighbor has now been cast: John Lithgow will be your Jud Crandall: the creepy decrepit zombie-loving neighbor of your nightmares.

— tom philip, GQ, "Stephen King's Most Messed-Up Book Is Getting a New Movie Adaptation... Starring John Lithgow," 4 May 2018
There’s no method school for being a zombie, at least not in 1968.

— jason nark, Philly.com, "The dead celebrate birthdays in Western Pa., the zombie capital of the world," 2 May 2018
Kellee Terrell is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, loving daughter, zombie slayer and not the one.

— kellee terrell, The Root, "How Isolation, Stigma and Shame Are Killing Black Women Living With HIV," 13 Mar. 2018
There are more powerful headsets out there obviously, but not everyone wants to go on a zombie-killing spree in their living room.

— cnt editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Tech Gifts for Travelers," 9 Mar. 2018
The idea of repatriated zombies, which formed the memorable conclusion to Shaun of the Dead, gets more solemn treatment in The Cured.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'The Cured': New take on zombies does not bring home the bacon," 28 Feb. 2018
If there hadn't been some dragons killing zombies, the season would have been an insult to fans.

— matt miller, Esquire, "Will the Game of Thrones Creators Be Bad For Star Wars?," 7 Feb. 2018
Thomas and company once again contend with mechanized spiders as well as zombie-like hordes known as Cranks.

— michael phillips, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Maze Runner’ franchise concludes on an OK note," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zombie.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of zombie

Louisiana Creole or Haitian Creole zonbi, of Bantu origin; akin to Kimbundu nzúmbe ghost

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1871

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Financial Definition of ZOMBIE

zombie

noun

What It Is

A zombie is a company that continues to operate even though its liabilities exceed its assets (in other words, it has a net worth of zero).

How It Works

Let's say Bank XYZ has $1 billion in assets (loans it has made to customers) and $2 billion in liabilities (delinquent loans, interest payments due to customers, debt it may have borrowed, etc.). Bank XYZ could declare bankruptcy and default on its obligations at any time, but for now it is still alive.

Why It Matters

Zombies are very risky investments because they could die at any time. However, some zombies might receive sudden financing, such as government bailouts or other money, which could prompt a turnaround that might make shareholders suddenly wealthy.

Source: Investing Answers

ZOMBIE Defined for English Language Learners

zombie

noun

Definition of zombie for English Language Learners

: a person who moves very slowly and is not aware of what is happening especially because of being very tired
: a dead person who is able to move because of magic according to some religions and in stories, movies, etc.