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

Nearly two centuries ago, the English author Mary Shelley confronted human beings’ instinctive anthropocentrism in her 1826 novel, The Last Man, which was published eight years after Frankenstein and has recently been reissued. —Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024

She’s also written movies like Jennifer’s Body and, most recently, Lisa Frankenstein, starring Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024

Available as a 7-foot-tall animatronic, the monster comes straight out of Universal’s Frankenstein and even features lines straight from the classic film. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024

When Everybody Loves Raymond debuted in September 1996, Boyle was an accomplished actor with a long list of credits spanning decades, from his breakout role in 1970’s Joe andthe 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein directed by Mel Brooks to the 1989 comedy thriller The Dream Team. —Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024

If Swifties are a monster, Taylor is their Frankenstein. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024

At one time, Wisconsin governors could veto individual letters to create new words — known as the Vanna White veto — or strike words from two or more sentences to make new sentences, known as the Frankenstein veto. —Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024

Images of Frankenstein’s monster, the Werewolf and the Creature from the Black Lagoon wreaking destruction flicker in the background. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

On Thursday morning, the director uploaded images from a camera test on Instagram, featuring Bale’s latest onscreen transformation into Frankenstein, along with his paramour, the eponymous bride (Buckley). —Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1a