What Does ‘Side quest’ Mean?

A side quest is a small extra thing you do that is not your main goal, borrowed from video games.

Gaming & online life noun

Examples of ‘Side quest’ in a sentence

Where does ‘Side quest’ come from?

From video-game design, where optional missions are called side quests. Its everyday use spread online.

How to use it, and when not to

Use it to make a detour sound fun. Just keep the main quest in view.

For parents and teachers

Fine around parents and teachers. Safe.

Related slang

Frequently asked questions

What does Side quest mean?

A side quest is a small extra thing you do that is not your main goal, borrowed from video games.

Where does Side quest come from?

From video-game design, where optional missions are called side quests. Its everyday use spread online.

Is Side quest OK to say around parents or teachers?

Fine around parents and teachers. Safe.

How do you use Side quest in a sentence?

I went to buy milk and ended up on a side quest to find a rare stamp. Learning guitar is my side quest this year.

More gaming & online life slang

Locked in, Lore, NPC, W and L. Or browse the full A–Z / try the Slang Translator.

Sources

Definition written by VibeDex. Slang changes quickly, so this is a snapshot. Last reviewed 2026-10-23.