Victorian

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for Victorian, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Belonging to the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), or to that era in general.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

conservative

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

prudish straitlaced puritanical prim old-fashioned prissy straightlaced priggish

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Belonging to the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), or to that era in general.

“The house has beautiful Victorian ironwork on the porch.”

prudish straitlaced puritanical prim old-fashioned conservative prissy straightlaced priggish

2. adj

Old-fashioned or strictly moral in a way associated with that period; prudish or conservative.

“His Victorian views on dating seemed hopelessly out of touch.”

Opposites

modern

How to use Victorian

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

Victorian era Victorian architecture Victorian values strictly Victorian

Etymology

From the name of Queen Victoria (1819 to 1901) plus the ending "-an," which turns a name into an adjective — the same pattern as "Elizabethan" or "Edwardian."

Full origin of Victorian →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Victorian” mean?

The word “Victorian” means belonging to the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), or to that era in general. In plain terms, relating to Britain in the 1800s under Queen Victoria — or, informally, old-fashioned and a bit strait-laced.

How do you pronounce “Victorian”?

“Victorian” is pronounced vihk-TAW-rih-uhn (/vɪkˈtɔ.ɹi.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Victorian” in a sentence?

Here is “Victorian” used in a sentence: “The house has beautiful Victorian ironwork on the porch.”

What part of speech is “Victorian”?

Depending on how it is used, “Victorian” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “Victorian” come from?

The word “Victorian” dates back to around 1819. From the name of Queen Victoria (1819 to 1901) plus the ending "-an," which turns a name into an adjective — the same pattern as "Elizabethan" or "Edwardian.".

Is “Victorian” a common word?

“Victorian” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Victorian” have?

“Victorian” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), or to that era in general.

What is the difference between Victorian and Edwardian?

'Victorian' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 to 1901, and the culture of that era. 'Edwardian' refers to the following reign of Edward VII in the early 1900s. Victorian style is generally seen as more ornate and formal than the lighter Edwardian period that came after.

Should Victorian be written with a capital V?

Yes, when it refers to Queen Victoria's reign or that historical era, 'Victorian' is capitalised as a proper adjective. It keeps the capital even in the extended sense of old-fashioned or strictly moral, because it derives from the queen's name.

People also searched

modern conservative old-fashioned puritanical prim prudish prissy

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of Victorian