Goth

¹ American  

[goth] / gɒθ /

adjective

1. Often goth

   1. of or relating to a genre of rock music that first became popular in the 1980s and is characterized by morbid themes and melodies.

      Goth rock is one of my favorite types of music.

   2. of or relating to a subculture favoring goth music and a dark and morbid aesthetic.

      Her dark clothes and piercings suggested she was a goth girl.

2. of or relating to a Teutonic people who in the 3rd to 5th centuries invaded and settled in parts of the Roman Empire.

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noun

1. Often goth

   1. a genre of rock music that first became popular in the 1980s and is characterized by morbid themes and melodies.

      Goth has taken many forms over its years as a genre.

   2. a person who is part of a subculture favoring a genre of rock music that first became popular in the 1980s and a dark and morbid aesthetic.

      The club was full of goths dressed in black shirts and pants.

2. one of a Teutonic people who in the 3rd to 5th centuries invaded and settled in parts of the Roman Empire.

3. a person of no refinement; barbarian.

Goth ² American  

Or Goth.

abbreviation

Linguistics.

1. Gothic.

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Goth British  

/ ɡɒθ /

noun

1. a member of an East Germanic people from Scandinavia who settled south of the Baltic early in the first millennium _ad . They moved on to the Ukrainian steppes and raided and later invaded many parts of the Roman Empire from the 3rd to the 5th century See also Ostrogoth Visigoth

2. a rude or barbaric person

3. (sometimes not capital) an aficionado of Goth music and fashion

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adjective

1. Also: Gothic.  (sometimes not capital)

   1. (of music) in a style of guitar-based rock with some similarities to heavy metal and punk and usually characterized by depressing or mournful lyrics

   2. (of fashion) characterized by black clothes and heavy make-up, often creating a ghostly appearance

Etymology

Origin of Goth

First recorded before 900; Middle English Gothe from Late Latin Gothī (plural); replacing Old English Gotan (plural) ( Gota, singular); cognate with Gothic Gut- (in Gut-thiuda “Goth-people”)

Example Sentences

And Mia Goth, one of the stars of The Frankenstein, went for a white silk floor-length dress by Dior.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

The production design by Tamara Deverell is superb as are the costumes by Kate Hawley, who shrouds Goth in dramatic chiffon layers and dresses laced to highlight her vertebrae.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro unveiled a new teaser trailer for his November Netflix movie, “Frankenstein,” starring Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth, who both appeared onstage with the filmmaker.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2025

DJ Paul V. of Dragstrip 66 and DJs from Lesbian Goth Night will be serving up tunes to dance the night away.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

And schools across the country were banning trench coats, backpacks, black clothing, white makeup, Goth music, computer gaming shirts and symbols.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz