Definition
n. a creature from Middle Eastern stories that eats the bodies of dead people. In modern slang, it is also a person who likes to watch others have sex or be embarrassed.
n. a creature from Arabic folklore that consumes human flesh, typically that of corpses. In contemporary informal usage, it refers to a person who derives pleasure from the suffering or humiliation of others, particularly in the context of voyeurism.
Examples
“He is a real ghoul who likes to watch people's private lives.”
“The internet is full of ghouls who post videos of people's most embarrassing moments without their permission.”
“While the original myth depicts the ghoul as a nocturnal predator of the dead, modern usage has shifted to describe those who exploit the private misfortunes of others for their own entertainment.”
Examples
simple
“He is a real ghoul who likes to watch people's private lives.”
contextual
“The internet is full of ghouls who post videos of people's most embarrassing moments without their permission.”
complex
“While the original myth depicts the ghoul as a nocturnal predator of the dead, modern usage has shifted to describe those who exploit the private misfortunes of others for their own entertainment.”
Etymology
Borrowed from French goule, from Persian غول (ġul) from Arabic غُول (ḡūl).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ghoul
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0