Gaming has developed one of the most expansive and fast-evolving vocabularies of any modern leisure domain. From competitive esports arenas to single-player narrative campaigns, players communicate in a shorthand that compresses complex tactical, mechanical, and social concepts into single words or brief phrases. This glossary defines the terms in common use across platforms, genres, and communities. Core Mechanics AFK — Away From Keyboard. A player who has stopped actively participating in a session, whether intentionally or due to disconnection.