orc
Orc (noun) means a mythical monstrous, humanoid creature — usually depicted as brutish, aggressive, and green-skinned — common in fantasy fiction. Example: “The heroes fought off a raiding party of orcs at the bridge.”
How to use orc
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn fantasy stories and games, a rough, aggressive monster-race; in older usage, a name for a fierce whale.
Don't confuse with "orca" — the whale name is now the standard spelling; "orc" today almost always means the fantasy creature.
Word forms
orcs plural, orcs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The heroes fought off a raiding party of _____ at the bridge.
Etymology
The sea-creature sense traces back through French and Italian to Latin orca ("a kind of whale") — the same root that gives us "orca." The fantasy-monster sense was popularized separately by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Frequently asked questions
What does “orc” mean?
The word “orc” means a mythical monstrous, humanoid creature — usually depicted as brutish, aggressive, and green-skinned — common in fantasy fiction. In plain terms, in fantasy stories and games, a rough, aggressive monster-race; in older usage, a name for a fierce whale.
How do you pronounce “orc”?
“Orc” is pronounced awk (/ɔɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “orc” in a sentence?
Here is “orc” used in a sentence: “The heroes fought off a raiding party of orcs at the bridge.”
What part of speech is “orc”?
“Orc” is a noun.
Where does the word “orc” come from?
The word “orc” comes from Latin. The sea-creature sense traces back through French and Italian to Latin orca ("a kind of whale") — the same root that gives us "orca." The fantasy-monster sense was popularized separately by J.R.R. Tolkien.
How many meanings does “orc” have?
“Orc” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mythical monstrous, humanoid creature — usually depicted as brutish, aggressive, and green-skinned — common in fantasy fiction.