goat

noun

\ ˈgōt

plural goats

Definition of goat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a 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

GOAT

abbreviation or noun

\ ˈgōt

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

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

Definition of GOAT (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

Other Words from goat Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about goat

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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

One recent early morning at the ranch outside Carnation, an 18-year-old from California named Robel was up early to feed horses, goats and a couple of farm cats — a much different routine than staying up late to play video games. — Martha Irvine, The Seattle Times, "He’s a ‘tech addict’ who works in Seattle area’s tech industry," 26 Dec. 2018 On the Razer, Bumblebee Farm looks cozy and lush. Footsteps are weighty, and the cows, goats, and sheep sound alive. — Alexander George, Popular Mechanics, "How To Get Into the High-Powered World of Gaming PCs," 20 Sep. 2018 Animal agriculture is responsible for about 15 percent of greenhouse gases, mostly from enteric methane burped up by ruminants like cattle and goats. — Tamar Haspel, Vox, "Lab-grown meat and the fight over what it can be called, explained," 31 Aug. 2018 Muslims often slaughter sheep, cattle or goats on the holiday, distributing some meat to the poor. — Julhas Alam, Fox News, "Rohingya refugees celebrate holiday amid memories of home," 22 Aug. 2018 The 15-hectare farm, some 370 miles by car from the capital Algiers, bustled with chickens, quails, ducks, camels, goats, and sheep – a hive of activity in this stark landscape where, for miles, there is little else besides sand. — Thin Lei Win, The Christian Science Monitor, "Algeria invests in desert fish farming to boost food production," 21 May 2018 The 20th-anniversary party – with hayrides, goats and a crowd dressed to impress – sprawled across North Corner Haven Farm in Lancaster County. — Cristina Bolling, charlotteobserver, "Who sets Charlotte’s high-fashion agenda? This woman – and it’s been a 20-year mission | Charlotte Observer," 3 May 2018 In a side room occupied by two goats, the Afghans found a homemade grenade fashioned out of ammonium-nitrate explosives in a blue Party Extreme energy-drink can. — Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, "‘I Think I’ve Been Shot’: Nighttime Raid in Afghanistan Reveals New U.S. Strategy," 5 Dec. 2018 Assistant Director of Student Activities Brittney Smith says goats are popular and all over the internet. — BostonGlobe.com, "New England news in brief," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'goat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.