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noun

ghoul

gool

Ghoul (noun) means a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses. Example: “In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night.”

noun
1
A legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses.
"In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night."
2
A person with a morbid, unhealthy fascination with death or gruesome things.
"Only a ghoul would slow down just to gawk at the crash."

How to Use Ghoul

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a corpse-eating demon from folklore, or (more commonly today) someone who takes an unhealthy interest in death, gore, or other people's misfortune.

Common pairings
a ghoulish ghoul reference act like a ghoul gawking ghouls

Word Forms

ghouls plural

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In the old folktale, a _____ haunted the cemetery at night.

Etymology

From French goule, borrowed from Persian/Arabic ghul, a legendary desert demon that preyed on travelers and the dead.

Origin: French

Rhymes for ghoul

See all rhymes for ghoul →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “ghoul” mean?

The word “ghoul” means a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses. In plain terms, either a corpse-eating demon from folklore, or (more commonly today) someone who takes an unhealthy interest in death, gore, or other people's misfortune.

How do you pronounce “ghoul”?

“Ghoul” is pronounced gool (/ɡuːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ghoul” in a sentence?

Here is “ghoul” used in a sentence: “In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night.”

What part of speech is “ghoul”?

“Ghoul” is a noun.

Where does the word “ghoul” come from?

The word “ghoul” comes from French. From French goule, borrowed from Persian/Arabic ghul, a legendary desert demon that preyed on travelers and the dead.

How many meanings does “ghoul” have?

“Ghoul” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial