Grinimo

Grinimo is a term used in speculative fiction and collaborative worldbuilding to describe a structured social ritual centered on facial expression and nonverbal consent. In its typical use, grinimo denotes a sequence beginning with subdued smiles that gradually intensify into broad grins, followed by a communal moment of laughter or synchronized display. The ritual may occur in person or through digital avatars, and it is often framed as a mechanism for signaling trust, reinforcing social bonds, or defusing tension within a group.

In narrative practice, grinimo can function as a plot device or cultural marker. Authors describe agreed-upon rhythms, cues, and turn-taking rules—eye contact duration, pace of smile escalation, and the spacing between participants—so that participants share a felt sense of cohesion rather than a random outbreak of mirth. The description of the ritual often highlights how participants read subtle shifts in expression and respond with reciprocal cues.

Origins and usage vary by work. Grinimo is not a real-world practice; it is a fictional construct whose rules are invented by writers or game designers. Some depictions portray grinimo as exclusive, others as universal; some emphasize its ceremonial aspects, others its improvisational nature, and some treat it as a metaphor for social alignment in crowded or mediated environments.

Related ideas include nonverbal communication, ritual laughter, and social signaling in distributed communities. The term has appeared across science fiction novels, role-playing games, and worldbuilding forums, where it is used to explore themes of trust, inclusion, and collective identity.