goat

1 of 2

noun

ˈgōt 

plural goats

1

a

or plural goat : any of various hollow-horned ruminant mammals (especially of the genus Capra) related to the sheep but of lighter build and with backwardly arching horns, a short tail, and usually straight hair

especially : one (Capra hircus) long domesticated for its milk, wool, and flesh

b

capitalized : capricorn

2

: a licentious man : lecher

3

: scapegoat sense 2

goatish

ˈgō-tish 

adjective

goatlike

ˈgōt-ˌlīk 

adjective

GOAT

2 of 2

abbreviation or noun

ˈgōt 

variants or less commonly G.O.A.T.

plural GOATs also G.O.A.T.s

: the greatest of all time : the most accomplished and successful individual in the history of a particular sport or category of performance or activity

As much fun as it is to debate who is the greatest in NBA history, it's pointless, a question for which there can be no definitive answer …. The list of players who could be considered the GOAT is long, and each one is worthy in his own right.

—Nancy Armour

There's no denying what Aaron Rodgers has done in his career, but to say Rodgers is the GOAT is a big statement considering what Tom Brady has accomplished.

—Pro Football Weekly

Former President (and arguably the GOAT of post-presidency careers) Jimmy Carter is leasing 10 acres of his Georgia peanut farm to SolAmerica to create a 1.3MW solar array.

—Walter Einenkel

If championships alone are the measuring stick, then Michael [Jordan] is probably going to remain the popular choice as the GOAT. But if I can go on aesthetics alone, I know I'd rather watch LeBron [James].

—Bob Ryan

Synonyms

Noun

• fall guy
• scapegoat
• whipping boy

Examples of goat in a Sentence

Noun

In the last inning, a home run can make you the hero, and a strikeout can make you the goat.

an unhappy childhood was the goat he used to rationalize every failure and shortcoming

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Google once hired a bunch of goats to eat its grass! —Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024

But up until last month, many scientists thought that livestock, such as dairy cows and goats, would not be susceptible to the strain. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Named for one of the family’s goats, Fat Maddie’s uses organic eggs, herbs and produce from the family farm just outside Danville for its artisanal salads, sandwiches, gyros and specialty burgers. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

The cases come just days after a group of young goats contracted bird flu on a Minnesota farm. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 31 Mar. 2024

Since the beginning of the native Atacama people, generations of Ramon Torres’ family guided their pack of goats along the rolling hills of Peine, a town sitting at the mouth of Chile’s salt flats. —Megan Janetsky, Victor R. Caivano and Rodrigo Abd, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024

Bye is part of a shrinking population of veterinarians trained in treating large animals like cows, goats, horses, pigs, and other livestock that makes up the country’s food chain. —Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024

Samples from the adult goats were negative for HPAI and all appeared healthy with no more sick goat kids being reported since March 11. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024

On a nearby block, for vaguely environmental reasons, a dozen goats used to roam free. —Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Abbreviation or noun

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Staley’s decision to call Clark a GOAT seems pointed, especially after some fans believed the South Carolina coach questioned Clark’s GOAT status in a previous interview. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024

On Tuesday, Prime Video unveiled the trailer for its upcoming series The GOAT, which features some of the biggest names from The Bachelor, Love Is Blind, Big Brother and Real Housewives vying for reality TV supremacy and a $200,000 prize. —Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024

The Italian fashion label has continued its partnership with Roc Nation to deliver an all-new collection of luxury apparel and accessories, designed by rap GOAT Jay-Z. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2024

Has everyone forgotten about Goldilocks, the GOAT centrist? —Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024

For his part, Taylor — who played his entire career for the Giants from 1981-1993 — couldn’t believe that given his GOAT status, Brady remains the league’s leader for most sacks ever with 565. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Dec. 2023

The model comes in various materials and colorways, but the GOAT opted for a titanium case and a black rubber strap. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2023

No one disputes Serena Williams’ GOAT status and no one maligns women’s tennis as less than the men’s. —Melissah Yang, refinery29.com, 3 Oct. 2023

Simone Biles is continuing to dominate in gymnastics, cementing her status as the GOAT. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 2 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gote, from Old English gāt; akin to Old High German geiz goat, Old Norse geit, Latin haedus kid

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Abbreviation Or Noun

1996, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing goat

• billy goat
• get one's goat
• nanny goat
• goat cheese
• old goat
• get someone's goat
• the goat
• mountain goat
• cashmere goat
• Angora goat

Kids Definition

goat

noun

ˈgōt 

plural goat or goats

1

: any of various cud-chewing mammals having hollow horns that curve backward, a short tail, and usually straight hair and related to the sheep but of lighter build

especially : one raised for its milk, wool, and flesh

2

: scapegoat

goatlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective