greenskin

Greenskin is a term used in fantasy fiction, role-playing games, and tabletop wargames to describe certain green-skinned humanoid races, most often orcs and goblins. The label is typically applied by human or other civilizations to designate a recurring group of antagonists, though some settings feature greenskins who use the term for themselves.

The name derives from a visible trait—green skin—that many authors and designers use to distinguish these beings. Across different works, greenskins range from loosely organized bands to structured, clan-based societies. They are commonly portrayed as aggressive or warlike, with a focus on physical prowess and melee combat, though some settings grant them more complex cultures, leadership structures, and social rules.

In popular fantasy media and games, greenskins are a prominent motif. In the Warhammer Fantasy setting, Greenskins unite Orcs and Goblins into a single faction known for brutal, close-quarters warfare and shifting alliances between rival clans. Similar concepts appear in other universes, where greenskins serve as recurring enemies or, in some cases, as protagonists with their own codes and cultures. The portrayal of greenskins varies by author and medium, ranging from simplistic threats to nuanced societies with politics, religion, and kinship.

See also: Orc, Goblin, Warhammer Greenskins, Orcs and Goblins.