What does "goat" mean?
Any hoofed mammal of the genus Capra.
Goat
/ɡəʊt/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any hoofed mammal of the genus Capra.
- Grammar: goat is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: caprine animal, animal, antelope, aphrodisiomaniac.
- Useful contrasts: blameless person, innocent party, least.
- Usage evidence: People still call her the goat.
How to use "goat"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "goat" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "goat" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "goat" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "goat" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "goat" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "caprine animal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "goat", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any hoofed mammal of the genus Capra. countable, uncountable
"The first thing that greets you on entering the church is a notice asking you not to vex the goat, since it renders valuable service in keeping the churchyard tidy."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of GOAT (“greatest of all time”). abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 3 Alternative form of gote (“sluice, waterway”). alt-of, alternative, obsolete, possibly
"... the present new Sluice or Goat (as they call it) at the end of Hamorebeck, at its fall into Boston Haven, taking up the foundation of the old Goat, they met with the roots of Trees, many of them issuing from their several[…]"
- 4 Acronym of greatest of all time. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, slang
"Messi is the GOAT of football."
- 5 Alternative form of GOAT. alt-of, alternative
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 Alternative form of GOAT. alt-of, alternative
- 7 any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns wordnet
- 8 Any hoofed mammal of the genus Capra.; The meat of the aforementioned animal. uncountable
"Ugh, we're having goat for dinner again."
- 9 A member of the "government of all the talents" proposed by British prime minister Gordon Brown. UK, informal
"The best talents; of course he was a GOAT."
- 10 (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Capricorn wordnet
- 11 A lecherous man. countable, slang, uncountable
- 12 a victim of ridicule or pranks wordnet
- 13 A scapegoat. countable, informal, uncountable
"Fernando Rodney, the goat in Sunday's 10th inning loss to Tampa Bay, threw three nearly perfect innings in relief on Tuesday after being demoted from the closer role."
- 14 A Pontiac GTO car. countable, slang, uncountable
- 15 A person who is not easily understood by a speech recognition system; contrasted with sheep. countable, uncountable
- 16 A fool, loser, or object of ridicule. countable, uncountable
"Samaurez said over his shoulder, “In fact, I missed being the class goat by only three places.” Gwen patted his arm, “But, look H-Two, George Pickett was the goat and see how famous he became.”"
- 17 A blocker who is isolated behind the opposing team's blockers, so as to slow down the pack. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To allow goats to feed on. transitive
"Rape and clover has yielded 283 sheep days of pasture, practically dry weather […] For the coming year it is planned to goat this area continuously"
- 2 To scapegoat. transitive
"John Rocker, meanwhile, was spared from getting goated because he didn't blow a save"
- 3 To isolate (an opposing blocker) behind one's own blockers, so as to slow down the pack. transitive
Slang
- 1 Greatest of all time. slang, sports, 2010s-2020s
"People still call her the goat."
Proper Noun
- 1 The constellation and zodiacal sign Capricornus.
"The Balance shows redemption’s need; The Scorpion wounds He must endure; The Archer tells His coming sure; The Goat, His death in sacrifice[.]"
- 2 The eighth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"People still call her the goat."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "goat"?
Common synonyms include: caprine animal, animal, antelope, aphrodisiomaniac, armadillo, balker.
How do you use "goat" in a sentence?
People still call her the goat.
How do you pronounce "goat"?
Pronounced /ɡəʊt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English goot, got, gat, from Old English gāt, from Proto-West Germanic *gait, from Proto-Germanic *gaits, from a substrate language. The sense of lecherous man derives from the slang expression "horny as a goat".
Etymology 2
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *grautaz Proto-West Germanic *graut Old English grēat Middle English grete English great Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *-tHós Proto-Indo-European *-istHos Proto-Germanic *-istaz Proto-West Germanic *-ist Old English -est Middle English -est English -est English greatest Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Germanic *ab Proto-West Germanic *ab Old English æf Old English of Middle English of English of Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-West Germanic *all Old English eall Middle English all English all Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- Proto-Indo-European *-mṓ Proto-Indo-European *dh₂i-mon- Proto-Germanic *tīmô Proto-West Germanic *tīmō Old English tīma Middle English tyme English time English GOAT Abbreviation.