noun Uncommon

Vulcan

VUHL-kuhn

Vulcan (noun) means In fiction, a member of a logical, emotionally restrained alien species from the Star Trek universe. Example: “Spock, the most famous Vulcan, was known for suppressing his emotions.”

noun

In fiction, a member of a logical, emotionally restrained alien species from the Star Trek universe.

"Spock, the most famous Vulcan, was known for suppressing his emotions."

A person who seems unusually unemotional, logical, or analytical.

"His coworkers joked that he was a total Vulcan during the crisis meeting."

A blacksmith or metalworker, an old and now rare usage.

"The village vulcan hammered out horseshoes from dawn till dusk."

How to use Vulcan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly refers to the logical, unemotional alien race from Star Trek, or is used to describe someone acting that way.

Common pairings

Vulcan logic act like a Vulcan

Word forms

more Vulcan comparative, Vulcans plural, Vulcans plural, Vulcans plural, most Vulcan superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Vulcan” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Spock, the most famous _____, was known for suppressing his emotions.

Etymology

From the Roman god Vulcan, god of fire and metalworking. The Star Trek sense comes from the fictional planet Vulcan, itself named after the god by 19th-century astronomers proposing a hypothetical planet near the sun.

· First attested 1800

Class of 1800 Vulcan joined the language around 1800.

alcohol Aryan Australia availability bah

See the full Class of 1800 →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Vulcan” mean?

The word “Vulcan” means in fiction, a member of a logical, emotionally restrained alien species from the Star Trek universe. In plain terms, most commonly refers to the logical, unemotional alien race from Star Trek, or is used to describe someone acting that way.

How do you pronounce “Vulcan”?

“Vulcan” is pronounced VUHL-kuhn (/ˈvʌlkən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Vulcan” in a sentence?

Here is “Vulcan” used in a sentence: “Spock, the most famous Vulcan, was known for suppressing his emotions.”

What part of speech is “Vulcan”?

“Vulcan” is a noun.

Where does the word “Vulcan” come from?

The word “Vulcan” dates back to around 1800. From the Roman god Vulcan, god of fire and metalworking. The Star Trek sense comes from the fictional planet Vulcan, itself named after the god by 19th-century astronomers proposing a hypothetical planet near the sun.

Is “Vulcan” a common word?

“Vulcan” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Vulcan” have?

“Vulcan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in fiction, a member of a logical, emotionally restrained alien species from the Star Trek universe.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Vulcan:

Words that start with V