Victorian

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adjective (1)

Vic·​to·​ri·​an vik-ˈtȯr-ē-ən How to pronounce Victorian (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the reign of Queen Victoria of England or the art, letters, or tastes of her time
2
: typical of the moral standards, attitudes, or conduct of the age of Victoria especially when considered stuffy, prudish, or hypocritical

Victorian

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noun (1)

1
: a person living during Queen Victoria's reign
especially : a representative figure of that time
2
: a typically large and ornate house built during Queen Victoria's reign

Victorian

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adjective (2)

: of or relating to Victoria
It looks very much like only one Victorian team will have a chance to push into the top four …Roy Ward

Victorian

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noun (2)

plural Victorians
: a native or inhabitant of Victoria

Examples of Victorian in a Sentence

Adjective (1) My parents have very Victorian attitudes when it comes to sex. a conservative Christian sect with a code of sexual morality that is often seen as quaintly Victorian by outsiders
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Guests may sample two teas as hostesses dressed in Victorian clothing describe the history of tea and offer instruction on tea etiquette. Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2024 One of them features the all-black pair teamed with a Victorian blouse, trailing striped tie, pleated cutout skirt, statement socks and a gigantic plaid bow on her head. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024
Noun
The Glover family home was a Victorian located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, eight blocks from where Danny grew up. Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024 The four-story Victorian, originally designed by James E. Ware in the late 1800s, was much expanded during Dieterich’s time and spans almost 15,000 square feet. Mark David, Robb Report, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for Victorian 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Victorian.' 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

Adjective (1)

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

circa 1865, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Victorian was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near Victorian

Cite this Entry

“Victorian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Victorian. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

Victorian

adjective
Vic·​to·​ri·​an
vik-ˈtōr-ē-ən,
-ˈtȯr-
: of, relating to, or typical of the reign of Queen Victoria of England or of the literature, art, and tastes of her time
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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