The slang term pwn (past tense: pwned, pwn3d, pwnd, pwnt, or "p00n", various pronunciations) as used by the Internet gaming culture, means to defeat an opponent in a video game in a manner so harsh it is indescribable in words. In this context, to be pwned can be defined as "to be defeated," with the strong connotation of also having been "made a fool of." It is generally used for "friendly taunting" of a player's in-game enemies, and gently "rubbing in" any victories, no matter how fleeting. Most gamers hold the view that to "own" someone is to defeat them well, but to "pwn" them is to hand them a decisive defeat where you clearly dominated, and thus, the word "pwn" is seen as the next step above "own". It is now used intentionally by many members of the culture.