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

Across spending categories, ghouls and goblins will spend the most holiday funds on candy, with total spending expected to reach $3.5 billion. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival More than 20 frightfully fun hot air balloons will serve as trick-or-treat stations for little ghouls and goblins. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024

Little ghouls and goblins can wear costumes and join parade at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., dance the Monster Mash, enjoy eerie art activities and more. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Oct. 2024

Ghouls, goblins and ghosts season has officially arrived. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 12 Oct. 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