1
2
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of architecture developed in northern France and spreading through western Europe from the middle of the 12th century to the early 16th century that is characterized by the converging of weights and strains at isolated points upon slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses and by pointed arches and vaulting
Gothic cathedrals
b
: of or relating to an architectural style reflecting the influence of the medieval Gothic
3
often not capitalized
: of or relating to a style of fiction characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious, or violent incidents
Gothic novels
1
a
b
2
: Gothic art style or decoration
specifically
: the Gothic architectural style
3
: the East Germanic language of the Goths see Indo-European Languages Table
4
often not capitalized
: a novel, film, or play in the gothic style
Examples of Gothic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Built in 1876 by the same French missionaries who introduced wine to the area, the striking Gothic-style structure was leveled by Tibetan Buddhists in 1905, then rebuilt in 1914 to resemble the original style.
—Katie Chang, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 20 Aug. 2025
The larger stretch of South Broadway counts a lot of vital music venues — HQ (formerly 3 Kings Tavern), the Skylark, the Roxy Broadway, Gothic Theatre, Swallow Hill Music and more — but the corner of South Broadway and Ellsworth still pulses with an energy that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.
—The Know, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Gothic
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Adjective
The third installment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series will feature a darker, more Gothic aesthetic and tone following the idyllic Greek isles setting of Glass Onion.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Built in 1876 by the same French missionaries who introduced wine to the area, the striking Gothic-style structure was leveled by Tibetan Buddhists in 1905, then rebuilt in 1914 to resemble the original style.
—Katie Chang, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Just finished touring the Gothic Glasgow Cathedral and the adjacent cemetery, the Necropolis?
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 20 Aug. 2025
The larger stretch of South Broadway counts a lot of vital music venues — HQ (formerly 3 Kings Tavern), the Skylark, the Roxy Broadway, Gothic Theatre, Swallow Hill Music and more — but the corner of South Broadway and Ellsworth still pulses with an energy that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.
—The Know, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Gothic
Cite this Entry
“Gothic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gothic. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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