English · Slang Attested

permadeath

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Permanent death, where the player cannot continue but is obliged to restart the game from the beginning.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

And yes, especially 'special' mobs coming back is a bit of a stretch. But then the players coming back is a stretch too, no? (yes, I know, many have implemented some form of permadeath).

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Likewise, any situation where a player character or characters who die are lost permanently but do not trigger a game over, allowing the player to proceed without the character(s). Particularly applies if said deaths are avoidable (not forced by the plot) and occur only as a result of player blunder.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “permadeath” mean?

Permanent death, where the player cannot continue but is obliged to restart the game from the beginning.

Is “permadeath” formal or informal?

permadeath is generally slang.