ENGLISH
REFERENCE

goth

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡɑθ// UK //ɡˈɒθ// goth Archaic

n. a person who likes a specific style of dark clothing, music, and art. People in this group often wear black clothes, dark makeup, and enjoy a moody or mysterious style.

n. a member of a subculture characterized by a preference for dark, often Victorian-inspired fashion, melancholic music, and an aesthetic interest in the macabre.


SIMPLE

The goth wore black boots and dark eyeliner.

CONTEXTUAL

She identified as a goth during her teenage years, spending most of her weekends at alternative music clubs.

COMPLEX

While the subculture originated from post-punk music in the early 1980s, the modern goth aesthetic has expanded to include various literary and cinematic influences.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Gothes, Gotes (both plural). In turn partly from Old English Gotan, singular Gota, and partly from Late Latin Gothi. Ultimately from Proto-Germanic gutô, perhaps from geutaną (“to pour”). Compare Old Norse Goti (“Gotlander, Goth”), and related also to Gutnish, Gotland.

Usage

When capitalized, 'Goth' refers to the ancient Germanic people; in its lowercase form, it refers to the modern subculture.

© 2026 English Reference