Kevin
March 12, 2021
Common Questions
Do you know what the acronym OOC means? This guide will present all of the knowledge you need on the abbreviation OOC, including its definition, usage, sentence examples and more!
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According to Dictionary, OOC stands for “out of character” with respect to a role-playing game or a Fanfiction. This internet slang is used to state that the person speaking or typing wants to break their character or online role or persona, or it could be used as a critique when someone else believes that someone is acting out of character.
For example, if someone’s character in a roleplay game was a vicious ogre known for being mean at all times, but they decided their character was going to give another character advice and a hug, this could be OOC, or out of character.
Another way this could be used is if people are playing an RPG game online and someone needs to take a call. That person might type into the chat “OOC: Sorry, BRB (be right back). My mom is calling me.” Then, when they return to the game after their call, they might type, “BIC (back in character): Let’s do this!”
The acronym OOC can stand for a plethora of other meanings. The most common of these other meanings are “out of control,” and “out of context” which can both be used in their own varying ways on social media or via text message. “Out of control” is used to describe something that is no longer able to be managed. If someone takes something “out of context,” this means that they are not paying attention to the circumstances surrounding a statement or action, and are therefore taking the meaning in the wrong way. Acronym Finder and The Free Dictionary also list a variety of other meanings for the acronym OOC.
Since OOC can stand for a plethora of different things, it can be used in sentences very differently. In this first example, the acronym OOC will be used to mean “out of character” in context of an online role-playing game. Heather and Devin are playing an RPG together online.
Heather: Time to storm the castle! Let’s go!
Devin: OOC sorry, my mom is yelling at me. Can we storm the castle in 15?
Heather: OOC yes NP (no problem)!
15 minutes later
Devin: BIC ready to go!
Here, Devin uses OOC to alert Heather that she is going to break character and talk about something in the real world. This is useful because otherwise, her sentence would not make sense in the context of her character or the game. In this next example, the term OOC will be used to mean “out of context.” Here, Heather and Devin are taking an online course that requires them to post in a discussion forum. Another one of their classmates posted something snarky in response to Devin’s comment, and Heather jumps in to respond.
Heather: Actually, Diane, you are taking that quote from Devin’s post way OOC. If you actually read the entire post, you would see that the sentence after the quote refutes its truthfulness. Devin was using the quote as a negative example. Perhaps you need to work on your reading comprehension.
Devin: Thanks, Heather. Diane, I would be happy to talk this out over Zoom and explain my post to you. Thanks.
Here, Heather tells Diane that she has taken the quote Devin used “out of context,” or taking the wrong meaning from it, per Collins Dictionary. In this final example, OOC will stand for “out of control.” Here, Heather stayed out very late the night prior and did not let her father know where she was. He texts her, angry.
Dad: Heather, this behaviour is OOC. You’re grounded.
Heather: What?! I told you where I was going and who I was with.
Dad: And you didn’t answer my ten calls and twenty messages.
Heather: My phone died!
Here, Heather’s dad uses OOC to tell Heather that her behaviour is “out of control,” or no longer possible for him to manage, according to Dictionary. When using the acronym OOC in a sentence, one should ensure that the context is clear – make sure someone doesn’t take the meaning “out of context!”
Overall, the slang term OOC can stand for a great many different things. The most common meanings are out of character, out of control, and out of context. All of these might be used in different online scenarios. One should be careful when using this acronym as someone else might assume the user means out of control/character/context when they are actually referring to another meaning.
