goat

1 of 2

noun

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
goatish adjective
goatlike adjective

GOAT

2 of 2

abbreviation or noun

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

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
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
Speaking of animal yoga, groups like Laughing Frog Yoga and Hello Critter offer goat yoga sessions in Southern California. Carolyn Burt, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024 Raw goat milk poses food safety risks because it hasn’t been treated to kill off harmful pathogens. Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 2 Nov. 2024
Abbreviation or noun
The debate about the all-time F1 GOAT is ongoing, and Verstappen is a worthy candidate for that conversation. Rob Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Combined with a trendy silhouette, the fuzzy material lends any look a relaxed elegance, making these picks the GOAT. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for goat 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of goat was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near goat

Cite this Entry

“Goat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goat. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

goat

noun
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
goatlike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on goat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!