goblin

noun

gob·​lin ˈgä-blən 

: an ugly or grotesque sprite that is usually mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious

Synonyms

• brownie
• dwarf
• elf
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• fay
• gnome
• gremlin
• hobgoblin
• kobold
• leprechaun
• pixie
• pixy
• puck
• sprite
• troll

Examples of goblin in a Sentence

dressed up the toddlers like goblins for Halloween

Recent Examples on the Web

From blood and gore to ghost, goblins, and creepy masks, the season can be disconcerting. —Christin Perry, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024

There are more than 500 monsters, ghosts and goblins roaming the park plus haunted attractions, night rides and shows. —Alexis Clinton, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024

Adventures include everything from playing goblins guarding a treasure room to inflitrating a spooky circus. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

In the three-to-five-year group, napping during the day may continue to be necessary, especially since the preschooler’s growing imagination may lead to more bad dreams or nighttime fears—monsters under the bed, goblins in the closet—which can disrupt sleep. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gobelin, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin gobelinus, ultimately from Greek kobalos rogue

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

goblin

noun

gob·​lin ˈgäb-lən 

: an ugly, evil, or mischievous elf