Agency Dictionary

Sim

noun

In Portuguese: Sim

What does “Sim” mean?

A virtual human character or simulated autonomous agent controlled by a player inside a life simulation game. A Sim possesses unique personality traits, biological needs, aspirations, and interpersonal relationships.

Etymology

A clipping of simulation or simulated. The games of the Sim series, beginning with SimCity in 1989, used the word for the inhabitants of their simulated worlds, and The Sims, released in 2000, made it the name of the autonomous characters that the player directs.

Usage note

Sim (capitalized) refers specifically to The Sims franchise characters; lowercase sim can more broadly indicate any simulated person or agent in a game.

Synonyms

character

Word family

simulation
simulate
simulator

Rhymes with

him
dim
swim
slim
whim
brim
trim

Usage examples

Strangely, I always made a correlation of this question in my mind with the life simulator game The Sims.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Issue.17 - SportsmanshipJune 26, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Mazenoun: A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Buttonnoun: A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
Screennoun: A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
Rendernoun: A finished two-dimensional image or video generated from a three-dimensional mathematical scene by computer software. It synthesizes geometric coordinates, lighting algorithms, textures, and shading into final pixels.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.
androidnoun: A robot or synthetic organism designed to possess human form, movement, or intelligent behavior.
aqueductnoun: An engineered conduit or bridge designed to convey water from distant freshwater springs into urban centers using gravity flow.
Assistantnoun: A person or computational software program that provides aid, support, or automated services to facilitate work and handle routine tasks.
asynchronousadjective: Not occurring at the same time or coordinated simultaneously, describing workflows or interactions handled independently across time.
binaryadjective: Relating to or composed of two things, specifically a computational numbering system using base two digits.
Compassnoun: A navigational instrument equipped with a magnetized needle indicating magnetic north and other cardinal directions. Metaphorically, it designates an ethical principle or core belief providing personal guidance.

Also from these editions: terms

Allegiancenoun: Loyalty, commitment, or devoted obligation felt by an individual toward a nation, cause, sovereign, or athletic club. It creates emotional cohesion and enduring solidarity across social communities.
Athletenoun: A person trained to compete in exercises, games, or sports requiring physical strength, speed, stamina, or agility. Athletes submit to rigorous discipline to achieve optimal somatic and tactical performance.
Consolenoun: A text-based command interface inside computer software where system operators and players enter manual code commands. In video games, opening the console allows users to modify internal variables and enter cheats.
Fallacynoun: A mistaken belief or a flaw in reasoning that renders an argument invalid, misleading, or logically unsound. While superficially plausible, fallacious logic fails under rigorous rational scrutiny.
Guiltnoun: A remorseful emotional feeling arising from the awareness or belief of having done something wrong or failed an obligation. In sports, athletes often feel acute guilt after making a costly mistake in competition.
Motherlodenoun: A principal geological vein of rich gold or silver ore, or metaphorically a massive source of sudden wealth and luck. In gaming culture, it famously represents the cheat command that awards instant money.
Opponentnoun: A rival person or team competing against another in a contest, sport, game, or debate. In ethical sportsmanship, opponents challenge each other to elevate shared standards of mastery.
Refereenoun: An official presiding over a sporting match or game who enforces the rules, makes binding disciplinary decisions, and maintains fair play. The referee ensures player safety and preserves competitive order.
Simoleonnoun: An informal American slang term for a dollar, famously adopted as the fictional currency denomination within The Sims video game franchise. In simulation games, it is earned through jobs and spent on assets.
Trophynoun: A decorative commemorative object, such as a cup, plaque, or sculpture, awarded to a victor as a tangible symbol of athletic conquest. It marks supreme accomplishment at the conclusion of a tournament.
Whistlenoun: A small wind instrument that produces a loud, high-pitched acoustic sound when blown by an official. In sports, it serves as the authoritative auditory signal to halt play, resume action, or penalize fouls.