# gothic

/ˈɡɑθɪk/ (US) · /ɡˈɒθɪk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

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

## Definition

describing a style of building with pointed arches and tall windows, or a type of story that is dark, scary, and mysterious.

For teachers: relating to a style of European architecture from the 12th to 16th centuries, or to a literary genre characterised by gloom, the grotesque, and the supernatural.

## Examples

- The city is famous for its beautiful gothic cathedral.
- She loves reading gothic novels set in crumbling castles with dark secrets and stormy nights.
- The architect incorporated gothic elements like flying buttresses and ribbed vaults to give the university library a sense of historical weight and grandeur.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often capitalised when referring to the specific historical period or style.

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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.