pwn

[ pohn, pawn, pee-ohn, -awn ]

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to totally defeat or dominate, especially in a video or computer game:

   You just got pwned!

   I pwned those guys in the end.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pwn¹

1990–95; intentional misspelling of own (used in the same sense), probably from the common mistake of typing “p” instead of the adjacent “o” on a standard keyboard

Example Sentences

The headline “Pwn Stars” is by Jeff Contompasis; Beverley Sharp wrote the honorable-mentions subhead.

From Washington Post

To be clear, hackers having access to a program’s source code doesn’t immediately mean they can instantly pwn it, breaking through its defenses.

From The Verge

It's been dubbed "Rolling Pwn," and here's our @RobDrivesCars demonstrating how it works.

From The Verge

Rolling-PWN’s website has videos of the hack being used to unlock those rolling code vehicles, and Stumpf was able to... well, pretty much pwn a 2021 Accord with the exploit, turning on its engine remotely and then unlocking it.

From The Verge

Players downloading cheats to help them pwn and then getting pwned themselves is nothing new.

From The Verge