monster

The word “monster” means a frightening, dangerous creature, often imaginary or mythical. In plain terms, a terrifying creature — or, more loosely, either a cruel person or something unusually huge.

“Monster” is pronounced MONS-tuh (/ˈmɑnstɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “monster” used in a sentence: “The children swore a monster lived under the bed.”

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

The word “monster” comes from Latin. From Old French monstre, from Latin monstrum — originally something viewed as an omen or warning sign, later "a freakish creature.".

“Monster” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Monster” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a frightening, dangerous creature, often imaginary or mythical.

A monster is usually imaginary, frightening, and unnatural — think dragons, vampires, or creatures from myth. A beast is more often a real animal, especially a large or wild one, though it can suggest savagery too. In short, monsters tend to be supernatural inventions, while beasts are grounded in the animal world.

Classic examples come from myth and folklore: dragons, vampires, werewolves, ogres, sea serpents, and the many-headed Hydra. Modern stories add zombies, aliens, and Godzilla-style giants. What unites them is that they are frightening, dangerous, and larger than ordinary life, whether drawn from ancient legend or invented for film and fiction.

Usually, but not always. In its core sense a monster is something fearsome or cruel, and calling a person a monster is a strong condemnation. Informally, though, it can mean impressively big or powerful — a monster wave, a monster hit — and in that use it carries admiration rather than horror.