Stands for "
original character." A character created by a fanfic author or roleplayer. Said created character does not belong to the canon cast but is inserted anyway for
entertainment.
Many OCs appear as long-lost family members, past lovers, or exchange students. These background stories provide alibis for the sudden appearance and previous absences of the OC.
OC may also stand for "other character," in this case
representing an extremely minor character, introduced or mentioned but not extremely active in an original series.