A corruption of the word "Owned." This originated in an online game called Warcraft, where a map designer misspelled "owned." When the computer beat a player, it was supposed to say, so-and-so "has been owned."
Instead, it said, so-and-so "has been pwned."
It basically means "to own" or to be dominated by an opponent or situation, especially by some god-like or computer-like force.
"Man, I rock at my job, but I still got a bad evaluation. I was pwned."
An internet chat language variety/version of the word "owned", used in the sence of beating/defeating/outclassing someone. Usually used in games such as Counter-strike or on messageboards when a user posts arguments or insults that can't possibly be counter-argued.
Arguably considered so-called "l33t-speak"
"I pwnd you that round" "You just got pwnd dude" "I am going to pwn you like I did your mother last night"
4: Getting showed up/embarressed in a public event by someone/something
Example for 1:
Ryan loses to Brian
Brian: "Hahaha, you got PWN3D!"
Example for 2:
"omfg d00d i pwn3d him cuz i r r0xx0rzz"
Example for 3:
"And then I pwn3d him at Halo"
"Whoops, I mean owned"
Example for 4:
Person A: "I spent a long time writing the entire script to Harry Potter"
Person B: "Yeah, I downloaded it off the internet too"
Person C: "PWN3D!"
To completely fail as a man in either terms of video games, driving, BBQing, or any other event that a real MAN would never lose to a chick.
Me: F**k that guy can out drift me any day.. Friend: you know that's a chick driving right? Me: BULLSHIT!!!! Friend: How does it feel to be pwned by a chick!?!