Social Deduction Glossary
Last updated: March 26, 2026
Why a Glossary Helps
A lot of groups talk about clue rounds without sharing the same vocabulary. New players hear phrases like `too meta`, `information leak`, or `safe clue` and do not know what they mean. This glossary gives hosts and players a shared language so strategy discussions stay clear and useful.
Core Terms
Bluffing
Acting as if you know the hidden word or role when you do not.
Clue Quality
How useful a clue is for proving knowledge without directly revealing the answer.
Information Leakage
Any accidental reaction or comment that gives away hidden information.
Meta Play
Using knowledge about player habits instead of in-round evidence.
Runoff Vote
A second vote between tied players when the first vote is inconclusive.
Safe Clue
A broad clue that avoids giving too much away, sometimes at the cost of being too vague.
Hard Clear
A clue or behavior that strongly suggests a player is not the imposter.
Pocket Strategy
When one player subtly protects another to shape the vote.
Low-Information Round
A round where most clues are too generic to support fair deduction.
Reveal Bias
When player reactions during role reveal affect later suspicions.
Using the Terms in Real Sessions
These terms are most helpful when the host uses them consistently. For example, instead of saying `that clue was bad`, say `that was a low-information clue because it could apply to half the list`. Instead of saying `you looked suspicious`, say `there may have been reveal bias, so let’s judge the clue instead`.
For more practical examples, pair this glossary with the Hosting Playbook and the Common Mistakes guide.