English Reference
noun

goddess

n.
US /ˈɡɑdəs/ UK /ɡˈɒdɛs/ god·dess UK spelling goddess's, goddesses

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Religion

    a female god in a religion or mythology.

    a female deity worshipped within a polytheistic religious system.

    Simple

    Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and war.

    In context

    The temple was dedicated to the goddess of the harvest, where farmers would leave offerings in hopes of a fertile season.

    god
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a woman who is greatly admired for being very beautiful or talented.

    a woman who is idolised or adored, typically for her physical beauty, grace, or exceptional intelligence.

    Simple

    The fans treated the famous singer like a goddess.

    In context

    In the golden age of Hollywood, the studio marketed her as a screen goddess to ensure her films were commercial successes.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalHumorous

    a woman who has a lot of power, authority, or influence.

    a woman possessing substantial authority or influence in a specific field or social circle.

    Simple

    In the fashion world, the magazine editor was seen as a total goddess.

    In context

    She moved through the corporate headquarters with the confidence of a goddess, knowing her decisions could shift the entire market.


From Middle English goddesse, equivalent to god + -ess, formed about 1350. The figurative meaning is first found in Edmund Spenser's Shepheardes calender (1579). Displaced Old English gyden.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English goddesse
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated