nondiegetic

N1O1N1D2I1E1G2E1T1I1C3

adjective

Not existing within a fictional universe, rather existing in the background, and unable to be perceived by the characters.

Scrabble 15

Meanings

adjectivenondiegetic (not comparable)

alternative non-diegetic · alternative misspelling nondiagetic

  1. not comparablehuman sciencesNot existing within a fictional universe, rather existing in the background, and unable to be perceived by the characters.

    “Just ignore it. It's nondiegetic.”

    2013 April 4, Adam Reed, “Sea Tunt: Part I” (11:21 from the start), in Archer, season 4, episode 12, spoken by Cheryl Tunt (Judy Greer)
    1 more example

    “Holy shit. How is he still breathing?” “Aah!” “He's suspended in disbelief, slowly dying while living out an alternative non-diegetic reality.” “Geez, what a horrible way to die.” “You don't know the half of it.” “Oh!” [both laugh] “You're on fuego with the guy-torn-in-half bits, Rick.” “That one was organic, though.” “Because you're naturally funny. That-- that's good old-fashioned fun right there, you know? W-w-we don't need to over-think shit, okay?” “Okay, buddy. Nice and grounded, fully immersive from here on out.” [Rumbling] “Right after this.” “W-what's happening?” “Going into an act break.”

    2020 May 3, Jeff Loveness, “Never Ricking Morty” (7:40 from the start), in Rick and Morty, season 4, episode 6, spoken by Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland)

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

nondiegetic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondiegetic

MLA

“nondiegetic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondiegetic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nondiegetic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondiegetic.

Source: nondiegetic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.