noun

Dalek

DAH-lehk

Dalek (noun) means one of the robotic mutant villains from the British television series Doctor Who, known for their metallic casings, grating voices, and single-minded drive to "exterminate.". Example: “The Daleks rolled down the corridor, screeching their catchphrase.”

noun

One of the robotic mutant villains from the British television series Doctor Who, known for their metallic casings, grating voices, and single-minded drive to "exterminate."

"The Daleks rolled down the corridor, screeching their catchphrase."

By extension, a person who acts in a rigid, unfeeling, and relentlessly aggressive way.

"Critics called the new policy pure dalek thinking — no room for compassion or exceptions."

How to use Dalek

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe classic pepper-pot-shaped robot villains of Doctor Who, or an insult for someone acting coldly ruthless.

Word forms

Daleks plural

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The _____ rolled down the corridor, screeching their catchphrase.

Etymology

Invented in 1963 by writer Terry Nation for Doctor Who; the exact inspiration is disputed, but it echoes the name of the Daleks' fictional predecessor race in the show.

· First attested 1963

Class of 1963 Dalek joined the language around 1963.

quark stig TARDIS

See the full Class of 1963 →

Rhymes for Dalek

Alek Malek

See all rhymes for Dalek →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Dalek” mean?

The word “Dalek” means one of the robotic mutant villains from the British television series Doctor Who, known for their metallic casings, grating voices, and single-minded drive to "exterminate.". In plain terms, the classic pepper-pot-shaped robot villains of Doctor Who, or an insult for someone acting coldly ruthless.

How do you pronounce “Dalek”?

“Dalek” is pronounced DAH-lehk (/ˈdɑːlɛk/ in IPA).

How do you use “Dalek” in a sentence?

Here is “Dalek” used in a sentence: “The Daleks rolled down the corridor, screeching their catchphrase.”

What part of speech is “Dalek”?

“Dalek” is a noun.

Where does the word “Dalek” come from?

The word “Dalek” dates back to around 1963. Invented in 1963 by writer Terry Nation for Doctor Who; the exact inspiration is disputed, but it echoes the name of the Daleks' fictional predecessor race in the show.

How many meanings does “Dalek” have?

“Dalek” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the robotic mutant villains from the British television series Doctor Who, known for their metallic casings, grating voices, and single-minded drive to "exterminate.".