What does "napoleon" mean?
Alternative form of napoleon.
Napoleon
/nəˈpəʊ.li.ən/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative form of napoleon.
- Grammar: napoleon is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: blackjack, bonaparte, bridge, coin.
- Usage evidence: Napoleon was a man of authority.
How to use "napoleon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "napoleon" 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 "napoleon" 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 "napoleon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "napoleon" 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 "napoleon" is acting as name, noun, 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 "blackjack" 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 "napoleon", 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 Alternative form of napoleon. alt-of, alternative
"He [Professor Moriarty] is the Napoleon of crime, Watson."
- 2 The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France. countable, historical, slang, uncountable
- 3 a card game similar to whist; usually played for stakes wordnet
- 4 Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values. countable, historical, slang, uncountable
"We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed, for that purpose, thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France."
- 5 a rectangular piece of pastry with thin flaky layers and filled with custard cream wordnet
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 A person resembling Napoleon Bonaparte, (usually) in having come to dominate an area or sphere of activity through ruthlessness or illegality as well as surpassing ability. countable, uncountable
"He [sc. James Moriarty] is the Napoleon of crime, Watson. He is the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city [sc. London]. He is a genius, a philosopher, an abstract thinker."
- 7 Clipping of Napoleon boot, a form of topboot worn by officers during the Napoleonic Wars. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Always an eloquent speaker, Polk became known as the Napoleon of the stump."
- 8 Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, historical, uncountable
- 9 A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre. uncountable
- 10 Clipping of double napoleon, a form of patience/solitaire. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, uncountable
- 11 Alternative form of nap: a horse to go nap on, a sure thing, a certain winner; a prediction of such a horse; a bet on such a horse. UK, alt-of, alternative, countable, obsolete, rare, slang, uncountable
- 12 Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau, a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
- 13 Clipping of Napoleon cake, another name for a millefeuille pastry. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
"Fascinated, Miss Manvers thrust aside a garnished plate, took a gulp of the decoction called coffee, and attacked her napoleon."
- 14 Clipping of Napoleon brandy, any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, rare, uncountable
- 15 Ellipsis of Napoleon slice. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), a French military commander and political leader.
- 2 A male given name from Italian sometimes given in honor of the French emperor.
- 3 A village in Silesia, Poland.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A ghost town in Arkansas.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Indiana.
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Kentucky.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; A township and census-designated place therein, in Jackson County, Michigan.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Mississippi.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; A city in Missouri.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Logan County, North Dakota.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Henry County, Ohio.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; A township in Henry County, Ohio.
Example
"Napoleon was a man of authority."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "napoleon"?
Common synonyms include: blackjack, bonaparte, bridge, coin, crown, doubloon.
How do you use "napoleon" in a sentence?
Napoleon was a man of authority.
How do you pronounce "napoleon"?
Pronounced /nəˈpəʊ.li.ən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French Napoléon, from Italian Napoleone, name of an early saint, of uncertain origin; possibly from the Germanic clan name Nibelung. By folk etymology explained as Napoli (“Naples”) + leone (“lion”).
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French Napoléon (“given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte”). In reference to coins, via French napoléon (“(slang) a coin that originally had the appearance of Napoleon's face in the obverse”). In reference to guns and possibly cards, in reference to Napoleon III.