Lord of the Flies

noun

1. a novel (1954) by William Golding.

Lord of the Flies

noun

1. a name for Beelzebub

Lord of the Flies

1. (1954) A dark, allegorical novel by the British writer William Golding about a group of boys stranded on a desert island. Despite their attempts to establish a civilized democratic society, the boys eventually revert to totalitarianism and primitive savagery. Golding won the 1983 Nobel Prize for literature.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lord of the Flies¹

translation of Hebrew: see Beelzebub

Example Sentences

As the manor devolves into something like “Lord of the Flies,” our hedonistic interloper uses this opening to become a usurper.

From Los Angeles Times

But conditions quickly deteriorate, and the indulgent escape turns into a “Lord of the Flies”-style story of survival.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, unless you feel it’s imperative that this story of a teenager fatally set upon other teenagers has a basis in reality, it might be best to regard the TV adaptation as fiction clear through — “Lord of the Flies” wasn’t based on anything, after all — something like the fifth season of “True Detective,” perhaps, especially given Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone are in starring roles.

From Los Angeles Times

“Even in going into ‘Boys State,’ people said, ‘It’s going to be Lord of the Flies.’

From Seattle Times

We are also describing, in the words of another awards specialist, a situation that has already turned into a “veritable ‘Lord of the Flies.’”

From Los Angeles Times