Godzilla

American

[god-zil-uh] / gɒdˈzɪl ə /

Trademark.

a science-fiction monster that resembles an enormous bipedal lizard, featured in Japanese and American films, television, and comic books.

Etymology

Origin of Godzilla

1950–55; an Anglicized version of the Japanese name Gojira < Japanese gorira gorilla + kujira whale

Compare meaning

How does godzilla compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Godzilla vs. Gargantua

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Godzilla is a creature of thoughtless collateral damage.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

The Monsterverse’s mission tasks Monarch’s heroes to figure out how to live with Godzilla and the other Titans sharing our planet.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

As for Godzilla, it snores like a kitten.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The British actress has appeared in two Godzilla films and a Sherlock Holmes spin-off, based on the detective's teenager sister, Enola.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

She waited until Mrs. Trotter and Miss Ellis were talking, then gave little W.E. the most fearful face in all her repertory of scary looks, sort of a cross between Count Dracula and Godzilla.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023