noun
ogre
OH-guh
Ogre (noun) means a large, ugly, monstrous creature in folklore, known for its brutish strength and appetite for humans. Example: “In the story, a hungry ogre guards the bridge into the village.”
noun
1
A large, ugly, monstrous creature in folklore, known for its brutish strength and appetite for humans.
"In the story, a hungry ogre guards the bridge into the village."
2
A cruel or frightening person.
"People are going to think I'm an ogre if I refuse to buy coffee for my little brother!"
"Her boss had a reputation as an ogre who never praised anyone."
How to use ogre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA monstrous fairy-tale giant, or, informally, a cruel and scary person.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a fearsome ogre
act like an ogre
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Word forms
- Plural
- ogres
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the story, a hungry _____ guards the bridge into the village.
Etymology
Borrowed into English from French ogre, ultimately from Latin Orcus, the Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “ogre” mean?
The word “ogre” means a large, ugly, monstrous creature in folklore, known for its brutish strength and appetite for humans. In plain terms, a monstrous fairy-tale giant, or, informally, a cruel and scary person.
How do you pronounce “ogre”?
“Ogre” is pronounced OH-guh (/ˈoʊ.ɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ogre” in a sentence?
Here is “ogre” used in a sentence: “In the story, a hungry ogre guards the bridge into the village.”
What part of speech is “ogre”?
“Ogre” is a noun.
Where does the word “ogre” come from?
The word “ogre” comes from Latin. Borrowed into English from French ogre, ultimately from Latin Orcus, the Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths.
How many meanings does “ogre” have?
“Ogre” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, ugly, monstrous creature in folklore, known for its brutish strength and appetite for humans.
