Gorgon

American  

[gawr-guhn] / ˈgɔr gən /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. any of three sister monsters commonly represented as having snakes for hair, wings, brazen claws, and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone. Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, was beheaded by Perseus.

2. (lowercase) a mean, ugly, or repulsive woman.

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Gorgon British  

/ ˈɡɔːɡən /

noun

1. Greek myth any of three winged monstrous sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, who had live snakes for hair, huge teeth, and brazen claws

2. informal (often not capital) a fierce or unpleasant woman

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Other Word Forms

• Gorgonian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gorgon

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin Gorgōn < Greek Gorgṓ, derivative of gorgós dreadful

Example Sentences

The Gorgon and Wheatstone gas plants in Australia collectively supply more than five percent of the world's liquefied natural gas, according to Chevron figures.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

The Australia arm of energy giant Chevron is working to restore production at the Gorgon and Wheatstone gas facilities on Western Australia’s coast following outages likely caused by Tropical Cyclone Narelle, a spokesperson said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Only much later would I realize that it wasn’t so much a smorgasbord of vendors as it was the Gorgon Medusa: When one head is removed, more sprout in its place.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

They'll be performing alongside the likes of Hannah Laing, CamelPhat and Gorgon City.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2024

I came back from that country and said that I had seen the Gorgon, but it did not make me a stone.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt