# Donovan

/ˈdɑnəvən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/donovan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a name

noun · CEFR B2

a common last name or first name for a man.

For teachers: a surname of Irish origin or a masculine given name derived from the surname.

- Donovan Mitchell is a famous basketball player in the United States.
- The professor introduced Mr. Donovan as the lead researcher on the archaeological project in Dublin.

### 2. a potato

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Slang

an old, informal word for a potato.

For teachers: a slang term for a potato, now considered obsolete or highly archaic.

- In the old story, the farmer sat down to a meal of boiled donovans.
- The glossary of nineteenth-century cant includes 'donovan' as a colloquialism for the common potato.

Usage: Used almost exclusively in historical or dialectal contexts.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; learners should use 'potato' or 'spud' in modern conversation.

## Examples

- He is a total donovan on the football pitch.
- Everyone listens when he speaks because he is the donovan of the local music scene.
- While he lacks a formal title, his influence over the community makes him the undisputed donovan of the neighborhood, settling disputes and organizing events with ease.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.