noun
leviathan
lih-VEYE-uhthn
Leviathan (noun) means a huge and immensely powerful sea creature, often from Biblical or mythological tradition. Example: “Sailors once told stories of a leviathan lurking beneath the waves.”
noun
1
A huge and immensely powerful sea creature, often from Biblical or mythological tradition.
"Sailors once told stories of a leviathan lurking beneath the waves."
2
Something enormous in size, power, or scale, especially an organization or institution.
"The company has grown into a corporate leviathan with offices worldwide."
How to use leviathan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething huge and powerful — originally a mythical sea monster, now often used for a massive organization or state.
Common pairings
a corporate leviathan
a leviathan of an organization
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Word forms
- Plural
- leviathans
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Sailors once told stories of a _____ lurking beneath the waves.
Etymology
From Hebrew livyathan, a sea monster mentioned in the Bible; philosopher Thomas Hobbes later used "Leviathan" as the title of his 1651 book about the all-powerful state.
Rhymes for leviathan
See all rhymes for leviathan →Frequently asked questions
What does “leviathan” mean?
The word “leviathan” means a huge and immensely powerful sea creature, often from Biblical or mythological tradition. In plain terms, something huge and powerful — originally a mythical sea monster, now often used for a massive organization or state.
How do you pronounce “leviathan”?
“Leviathan” is pronounced lih-VEYE-uhthn (/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/ in IPA).
How do you use “leviathan” in a sentence?
Here is “leviathan” used in a sentence: “Sailors once told stories of a leviathan lurking beneath the waves.”
What part of speech is “leviathan”?
“Leviathan” is a noun.
Where does the word “leviathan” come from?
The word “leviathan” dates back to around 1651 and comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew livyathan, a sea monster mentioned in the Bible; philosopher Thomas Hobbes later used "Leviathan" as the title of his 1651 book about the all-powerful state.
How many meanings does “leviathan” have?
“Leviathan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a huge and immensely powerful sea creature, often from Biblical or mythological tradition.
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