goat

1 of 2

noun

ˈgōt 

plural goats

1

a

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

goatish

ˈgō-tish 

adjective

goatlike

ˈgōt-ˌlīk 

adjective

GOAT

2 of 2

abbreviation or noun

ˈgōt 

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

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

: 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

Synonyms

Noun

• fall guy
• scapegoat
• whipping boy

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

This is a prime opportunity for parents to enjoy a morning ride while grandparents hang back with grandchildren to meet a baby goat, pet friendly pigs and, on select days, collect eggs from the henhouse. —Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

Abbreviation or noun

One of the most common arguments in all of sports is who is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in their particular field. —Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

Simone Biles Getty Images Like Simone Biles herself, the gymnastics GOAT's Met Gala hair is, in a word, flippy. —Marci Robin, Allure, 5 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gote, from Old English gāt; akin to Old High German geiz goat, Old Norse geit, Latin haedus kid

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Abbreviation Or Noun

1996, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing goat

• Angora goat
• billy goat
• cashmere goat
• get one's goat
• get someone's goat
• goat cheese
• mountain goat
• nanny goat
• old goat
• the goat

Rhymes for goat

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• groat
• haute
• moat
• mote

Kids Definition

goat

noun

ˈgōt 

plural goat or goats

1

: any of various cud-chewing mammals having hollow horns that curve backward, a short tail, and usually straight hair and related to the sheep but of lighter build

especially : one raised for its milk, wool, and flesh

2

: scapegoat

goatlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective