Definition of zombie

The origin of the word "zombie" can be traced back to Haitian folklore and voodoo rituals. In the Haitian language, the term "zombi" refers to a person who is in a trance or a state of catatonia. This condition was believed to be caused by a type of magic or sorcery that involved the use of a poisonous plant called "zombie powder" or "zombie root." The powder, which was made from the seeds of the pimpartum plant, was believed to be a potent drug that could render a person lifeless or in a deep sleep-like state. The person would appear to be dead, but they weren't truly deceased; they were essentially in a state of unconsciousness or a trance. The person's body could then be manipulated or controlled by the sorcerer who administered the powder, essentially turning them into a "zombie." The term "zombie" and the concept of zombies as reanimated corpses didn't gain popularity in Western culture until the early 20th century. The story "The White Zombie" by Bram Stoker in 1929 popularized the term in Western culture, depicting zombies as mindless, lifeless corpses living under the control of an evil sorcerer. This portrayal was then popularized by movies and books like "I Walked with a Zombie" in the 1940s, where the concept of zombies became firmly established in Western culture. Today, the term "zombie" is widely used to describe ominous, undead beings that are usually reanimated corpses controlled by an unknown force, particularly in popular culture like films, video games, and literature. The origin of the word in Haitian folklore still lingers, with many people believing that zombies are rooted in real-life practices and traditions in the Caribbean and Africa.