Frankenstein

noun

Fran·​ken·​stein ˈfraŋ-kən-ˌstīn How to pronounce Frankenstein (audio)
 also  -ˌstēn
1
a
: the title character in Mary W. Shelley's novel Frankenstein who creates a monster that ruins his life
b
: a monster in the shape of a man especially in popularized versions of the Frankenstein story
2
: a monstrous creation
especially : a work or agency that ruins its originator
Frankensteinian adjective

Examples of Frankenstein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Gibbons had created his very own fashion Frankenstein’s monster: a playful synthesis of sportswear and corsetry. Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023 Pierce went on to create the iconic versions of characters such as Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 Following First Two Pages of Frankenstein, the National released the new album Laugh Track in September. Evan Minsker, Pitchfork, 21 Nov. 2023 Creatures like Godzilla and King Kong have long existed, like other classic Hollywood monsters such as the Wolfman, Frankenstein and Dracula, as representations of the times their movies were made in. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023 One of the most prolific directors of the decade, Whale — portrayed by Ian McKellen in the 1998 feature Gods and Monsters — directed horror classics including Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein and appropriately, The Old Dark House. Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023 Bridgers also featured on two songs from the National’s first album of 2023, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which arrived back in April (and also featured Sufjan Stevens and Taylor Swift). Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 Now able to speak about the Frankenstein reimagining after the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, Dafoe discussed his experience filming Yorgos Lanthimos’s upcoming black comedy. Valerie Wu, Variety, 11 Nov. 2023 There is limited fossil evidence of the terror bird, so in designing one the production team tried to Frankenstein it from modern-day descendants. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Frankenstein.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Frankenstein was in 1818

Dictionary Entries Near Frankenstein

Cite this Entry

“Frankenstein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Frankenstein. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

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