What is the origin of the word zine?

Answer 1

Zines have been around since about the late 1700's. The pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a zine.

Alternate Answer:

"Zines" usually refer to e-zines, or electronic magazines. Magazines came out before zines, and pamphlets came out before magazines.

Thomas Paine's pivotal work, "Common Sense" was known then - and now - as a pamplet. And there is a vast difference between a pamplet dealing with a subject of political, economic or philosophical import and Cosmopolitan, The Saturday Evening Post or Hustler. And there is a difference between those magazines, versus zines on line.

Answer 2

The word "zine" is short for "fanzine," which originated in the Science Fiction community in the 1930s. It was used to describe amateur-produced publications circulated among fans of a particular interest, often containing niche content. Over time, "zine" became a more general term for any self-published, niche magazine or publication.

Answer 3

Shortened vesion of magazine.