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
Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
The family lived on the west side of Broadway, near City Methodist Church, a Gothic limestone masterpiece whose sanctuary seated a thousand people.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
The problem, not to put too fine a point on it, is that The Brutalist forsakes tonal subtlety for a full plunge into Southern or Mid-Atlantic Gothic, with the Van Burens becoming almost literally vampiric.
—Anthony Paletta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025
Zooey Deschanel Actor, Brentwood My parents’ home [in Pacific Palisades] had 14-foot ceilings in the living room, exposed wood beams, stunning Gothic arch details, original mission tiles, and handmade stained glass windows everywhere.
—The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Gothic 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Where to stay in New Orleans New Orleans hotel options are ample and varied, with newcomers including Hotel Henrietta in the Garden District—with suites of mosaic tile and custom millwork—and Blackbird, a Gothic Victorian with a Palm-Springs–worthy central pool in the Lower Garden District.
—Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
The family lived on the west side of Broadway, near City Methodist Church, a Gothic limestone masterpiece whose sanctuary seated a thousand people.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
The problem, not to put too fine a point on it, is that The Brutalist forsakes tonal subtlety for a full plunge into Southern or Mid-Atlantic Gothic, with the Van Burens becoming almost literally vampiric.
—Anthony Paletta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025
Zooey Deschanel Actor, Brentwood My parents’ home [in Pacific Palisades] had 14-foot ceilings in the living room, exposed wood beams, stunning Gothic arch details, original mission tiles, and handmade stained glass windows everywhere.
—The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Gothic
Dictionary Entries Near Gothic
Cite this Entry
“Gothic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gothic. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share