Frankenstein

noun

Fran·​ken·​stein ˈfraŋ-kən-ˌstīn 

 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

ˌfraŋ-kən-ˈstī-nē-ən 

-ˈsti-

adjective

Examples of Frankenstein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1816, during a time when women were expected to be muses, never makers. —Daphne Woolsoncroft, People.com, 8 July 2025

The former offers a new twist on the traditional Frankenstein tale. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 July 2025

San Francisco Ballet dancer Lleyton Ho didn’t have to use much imagination to play a frantic university student studying anatomy with Victor Frankenstein. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 July 2025

Directed by Gyllenhaal, the film takes place in 1930s Chicago and puts a spin on the classic Frankenstein story. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for Frankenstein

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine