Internet-based free content encyclopedia that provides entries submitted by regular Internet users, thus covering topics and issues more often ignored by the scholarly print-based encyclopedias. Not everything can be submitted, and there are policies and guidelines that must be followed. Is a distant relative to urbandictionary.com in that they are both free content Internet databases.
Wikipedia has an extensive listing of every major Harry Potter character. Even Luna gets a good-sized entry.
by Paul Wartenberg January 06, 2004
by Prince Leviticus November 12, 2004
An Internet blog site where willfully biased control freaks and chretins battle to pass off their misconceptions as encyclopaedic "truth".
Also spelled: Wackopedia
Also spelled: Wackopedia
Fred: I was looking at wikipedia last night and read that George W Bush is descended from Darth Vader. Isn't that amazing!
Joe: You were looking at what? Moron.
Joe: You were looking at what? Moron.
by Charles K Darwin March 31, 2008
because you're too fucking lazy to research it yourself
by 29484 November 19, 2006
The Wiki software genre as applied to a public encyclopedia.
It is very popular due to its ability to its loose licensing policies, which allow it to be included in commercial Web sites (such as Answers.com), as well as the general bias most of the Internet has in favor of open-source software.
Due to these financially-driven reasons, it is is always within the first results of a search query.
If you are going to read any Wikipedia article, it is important to first read the "Talk" page, as registered Wikipedia users are notorious for their elitism and incompetence. Wikipedia is run similar to a pure democracy, where any viewpoint with support over 50% has the final say.
Both of these reasons lead to inaccuracies and subjective deletion policies, including musical genres any Web search can prove legitimate and unique Web sites featured in the mainstream press. Vandalism is often found on Wikipedia, which can contribute the motives and viewpoints behind the deletion activities.
Wikipedia also invents words and phrases (such as "fancruft") and instructs registered users not to use them outside of Wikipedia's editing process.
Supporters point to studies claiming that Wikipedia is more credible than major encyclopedias, while opponents point to major negative news events, occurrences of censorship and alleged political/religious biases, and founder Jimbo Wales' beliefs in Ayn Rand's Objectivism as applied to his personal life.
It is very popular due to its ability to its loose licensing policies, which allow it to be included in commercial Web sites (such as Answers.com), as well as the general bias most of the Internet has in favor of open-source software.
Due to these financially-driven reasons, it is is always within the first results of a search query.
If you are going to read any Wikipedia article, it is important to first read the "Talk" page, as registered Wikipedia users are notorious for their elitism and incompetence. Wikipedia is run similar to a pure democracy, where any viewpoint with support over 50% has the final say.
Both of these reasons lead to inaccuracies and subjective deletion policies, including musical genres any Web search can prove legitimate and unique Web sites featured in the mainstream press. Vandalism is often found on Wikipedia, which can contribute the motives and viewpoints behind the deletion activities.
Wikipedia also invents words and phrases (such as "fancruft") and instructs registered users not to use them outside of Wikipedia's editing process.
Supporters point to studies claiming that Wikipedia is more credible than major encyclopedias, while opponents point to major negative news events, occurrences of censorship and alleged political/religious biases, and founder Jimbo Wales' beliefs in Ayn Rand's Objectivism as applied to his personal life.
Wikipedia is a very popular result with search engines. It is a real shame that readers don't investigate the behind-the-scenes activities, of which they may or may not approve...
by RedBlade March 19, 2009
Did you know that a good chunk of what some read on wikipedia isnt true? Just some knucklehead writing what he HE thinks...
by Foobalicous November 16, 2006
Online open text encyclopedia, the quality of whose articles varies widely because the quality of the contributors varies widely. A large number of its two hundred billion trillion articles consist of recycled news releases, wishful thinking masquerading as fact, axe-grinding, and hobbyhorse-riding. On the other hand, some sections include many articles written by people who know what they're talking about.
If you like an encyclopedia which provides hundreds of articles about Canadian television shows, you'll love Wikipedia!
by PBrain June 30, 2004