goat
10 synonyms for goat, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A horned, bearded farm animal related to sheep, often kept for milk, meat, or wool.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use goat
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
scapegoat
GOAT status
herd of goats
Etymology
From Old English gat, an ancient Germanic word for the animal; the "lecherous man" sense comes from the old expression "horny as a goat."
Full origin of goat →Frequently asked questions
What does “goat” mean?
The word “goat” means a horned, bearded farm animal related to sheep, often kept for milk, meat, or wool. In plain terms, the farm animal, or (in modern slang) an abbreviation for "Greatest Of All Time," or someone unfairly blamed for a loss.
How do you pronounce “goat”?
“Goat” is pronounced goht (/ɡoʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “goat” in a sentence?
Here is “goat” used in a sentence: “The goats grazed on the hillside behind the farmhouse.”
What part of speech is “goat”?
“Goat” is a noun.
Where does the word “goat” come from?
The word “goat” comes from Old English. From Old English gat, an ancient Germanic word for the animal; the "lecherous man" sense comes from the old expression "horny as a goat.".
Is “goat” a common word?
“Goat” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “goat” have?
“Goat” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a horned, bearded farm animal related to sheep, often kept for milk, meat, or wool.
Can goat also mean the worst player?
Yes. In older, informal sports usage, the goat is the player blamed for a failure or defeat, a shortening of scapegoat. Context and capitalization matter: being "the goat" of a game is an insult, while being "the GOAT" is the highest compliment.
What is the difference between a goat and a sheep?
Goats and sheep are closely related farm animals kept for milk, meat, and wool. Goats typically have beards and upright tails and prefer browsing on shrubs and leaves, while sheep are grazers with dense woolly coats and tails that hang down.
