# Griefing

- Term: Digital term
- Canonical: https://www.lanternhall.org/lexicon/griefing/

> Deliberately harassing other players in ways the game does not intend, such as killing newcomers, stealing kills, blocking doorways or destroying player-built structures, for the pleasure of causing grief.

Deliberately harassing other players in ways the game does not intend, such as killing newcomers, stealing kills, blocking doorways or destroying player-built structures, for the pleasure of causing grief.

**Origin:** Applied to online games by the late 1990s, notably in Ultima Online communities.

## Quick answers

**What does "Griefing" mean?**
Deliberately harassing other players in ways the game does not intend, such as killing newcomers, stealing kills, blocking doorways or destroying player-built structures, for the pleasure of causing grief.

**Where does the term "Griefing" come from?**
Applied to online games by the late 1990s, notably in Ultima Online communities.

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From The Lantern Hall (https://www.lanternhall.org/), a museum of fantasy literature and roleplaying games.