Meaning

noun a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force

noun (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body

noun a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies

originFirst attested in the 18th century. Partially through Louisiana Creole zombi (“zombie; ghost”), Haitian Creole zonbi (“zombie”), and French zombi (“zombie”). Ultimately from a Bantu language. Compare Kongo nzambi (“god”), zumbi (“fetish”), and Kimbundu nzumbi (“ghost”) (see Portuguese zumbi, Sranan Tongo dyumbi), and Caribbean folklore's jumbie (“a spirit or demon”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0