Easter egg

[ ee-ster eg ]

noun

1. a chicken egg that is dyed and often given a figure or design, or an imitation of such an egg, as an egg-shaped candy or chocolate, used at Easter as a gift or decoration.
2. Digital Technology. an extra feature, as a message or video, hidden in a software program, video game, DVD, etc., and revealed as by an obscure sequence of keystrokes or commands.
3. Movies, Television. a hidden message, as a cryptic reference, iconic image, or inside joke, that fans are intended to discover in a television show or movie.

Easter egg

noun

1. an egg given to children at Easter, usually a chocolate egg or a hen's egg with its shell painted
2. a bonus or extra feature hidden inside a website, computer game, or DVD, that is only revealed after repeated or lengthy viewing or playing

Word History and Origins

Origin of Easter egg¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

While the magical series is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and contains its fair share of Easter eggs, it requires minimal existing knowledge of previous films and series to follow along.

From Los Angeles Times

In April 2023, his stores advertised Easter egg hunts in public places including playgrounds and churches, authorities said.

From Seattle Times

It’s also the Swift who can’t help gathering writerly details for her next song, and the Swift who’s very deliberately planting autobiographical clues and Easter eggs for the fans to find.

From New York Times

After a week of decoding clues, hunting for Easter eggs and theorizing about the rerelease of “Reputation,” fans of Taylor Swift could finally relax on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to these universal themes, the episode wraps up the third season with Easter eggs for dedicated fans.

From Seattle Times