In gaming, to be owned is to be defeated or humiliated. It is a strong word. It means you did not just lose. You were crushed. You were embarrassed. The word comes from the idea of being owned like property. It is a taunt. It is also a badge of shame. It is common in shooter games.

Owned is often spelled "pwned." The spelling came from a typo in Warcraft. It stuck. Both words mean the same thing. They are used in chat after a kill. "You got owned." It is a celebration for the winner. It is a sting for the loser. The word is a weapon.

Related slang

• Rekt: wrecked, defeated.
• Pwned: owned, a typo origin.
• Destroyed: defeated badly.
• Clapped: defeated, similar.

Owned is not for formal settings. It is for games, for trash talk, for moments of dominance. It is a harsh word. It can be funny. It can be cruel. The tone decides. In a close match, it is a joke. In a blowout, it is a knife. Use it carefully. The other player is still a person.