What does "gothic" mean?
A novel written in the Gothic style.
Gothic
/ˈɡɒθ.ɪk/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A novel written in the Gothic style.
- Grammar: gothic is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ancient, animal, antediluvian, antiquated.
- Useful contrasts: romanesque, romanesque arch, romanesque arches.
- Usage evidence: The church is built in Gothic style.
How to use "gothic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gothic" 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 "gothic" 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 "gothic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gothic" 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 "gothic" is acting as adj, name, noun 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 "ancient" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gothic", 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 A novel written in the Gothic style.
"One hundred fifty Gothics sold over 1.5 million copies a month last spring."
- 2 a style of architecture developed in northern France that spread throughout Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries; characterized by slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses and by vaulting and pointed arches wordnet
- 3 a heavy typeface in use from 15th to 18th centuries wordnet
- 4 extinct East Germanic language of the ancient Goths; the only surviving record being fragments of a 4th-century translation of the Bible by Bishop Ulfilas wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to the Goths or their language.
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Gothic. alt-of
"Frant and Etchingham [station buildings] are more flamboyantly gothic and are built of ragstone."
- 3 Barbarous, rude, unpolished, belonging to the “Dark Ages”, medieval as opposed to classical. figuratively
"“[W]hat he holds of all things to be most gothic, is gallantry to the women.”"
- 4 Of or relating to the architectural style favored in Western Europe in the 12th to 16th centuries, with high-pointed arches, clustered columns, etc.
"Gothic arches"
- 5 Of or relating to the style of fictional writing associated with Gothic fiction, emphasizing violent or macabre events in a mysterious, desolate setting.
"Gothic tales"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Synonym of black letter. England
"Gothic letters"
- 7 Of a sans serif typeface using straight, even-width lines, also known as grotesque or lineal. US
- 8 Of or relating to the goth subculture, music or lifestyle.
"Gothic rock"
Adjective
- 1 characterized by gloom and mystery and the grotesque wordnet
- 2 as if belonging to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned and unenlightened wordnet
- 3 of or relating to the Goths wordnet
- 4 of or relating to the language of the ancient Goths wordnet
- 5 characteristic of the style of type commonly used for printing German wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 An extinct Germanic language, once spoken by the Goths.
- 2 Certain moths of the family Noctuidae.
- 3 A particular species of moth of the family Noctuidae, Naenia typica.
Antonyms
Example
"The church is built in Gothic style."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gothic"?
Common synonyms include: ancient, animal, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic.
How do you use "gothic" in a sentence?
The church is built in Gothic style.
How do you pronounce "gothic"?
Pronounced /ˈɡɒθ.ɪk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Late Latin gothicus (“Gothic, barbaric”), from Ancient Greek Γοτθικός (Gotthikós), from Ancient Greek Γότθοι (Gótthoi, “Goths”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”), proposed to derive from unattested Gothic *𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌰 (*guta). Equivalent to Goth + -ic. The various usages of the adjective are introduced nearly simultaneously in the first half of the 17th century. The literal meaning “of the Goths” is found in the 1611 preface of the King James Bible, in reference to the Gothicke tongue. The generalized meaning of “Germanic, Teutonic” appears in the 1640s. Reference to the medieval period in Western Europe, and specifically the architecture of that period (“barbaric style”, initially a term of abuse), also appears in the 1640s, as does reference to “Gothic characters” or “Gothic letters” in typography.
Etymology 2
From goth + -ic, see Gothic.