faust
LowLiterary, Academic, Allusive
Definition
Meaning
A noun referring to a person who sacrifices spiritual values or ethical principles for worldly knowledge, power, or success; specifically derived from the character of Dr. Faustus in German legends and literature, who sold his soul to the devil.
A symbol of intellectual ambition, the tragic pursuit of forbidden knowledge, or a bargain with malevolent forces for temporal gain. Used more broadly to describe any person or situation involving a profound, morally questionable trade-off for immediate or powerful rewards.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used as a proper noun (referring to the character) or, more commonly, as a common noun ('a Faust') to denote a person who makes such a bargain. It carries heavy literary and cultural connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The reference is to the same literary/legendary figure.
Connotations
Identical connotations of tragic ambition and a pact with evil/dark forces.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, primarily found in literary, philosophical, or political commentary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] made a Faustian bargain with [Entity] for [Goal].[Subject] is a modern Faust, trading [Principle] for [Reward].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Faustian bargain/pact (an agreement where one sacrifices one's moral integrity or long-term well-being for immediate power/knowledge)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically to criticise a CEO or company making a short-term, unethical deal that jeopardises long-term reputation or sustainability. 'The merger was a Faustian bargain that gave them market dominance but destroyed their culture.'
Academic
Common in literature, philosophy, and cultural studies to analyse themes of ambition, knowledge, and morality in texts from Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus' to modern works.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used in educated discussion about politics or ethics. 'He sold his principles for that promotion—it was a real Faustian pact.'
Technical
Not used in technical fields like STEM. Relevant in musicology (e.g., operas by Gounod, symphonies by Liszt) and art history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The politician's Faustian pact with the media backfired spectacularly.
American English
- The company's Faustian deal for market control ignored ethical regulations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We read a story about Faust in class.
- The legend of Faust is about a man who sold his soul to the devil.
- The scientist was compared to Faust in his ruthless pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
- Critics accused the regime of striking a Faustian bargain, sacrificing democratic freedoms for the illusion of economic stability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FAUST' sounds like 'FOUST' (a foust, or 'forced') — he was forced to pay the ultimate price for his forced (desperate) grab for power.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/POWER IS A COMMODITY PURCHASED AT THE COST OF THE SOUL. LIFE IS A BARGAIN WITH COSMIC FORCES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the German adjective 'faust' (fist). In Russian, 'Фауст' is a direct cognate, but the English use of 'a Faust' as a common noun (e.g., 'He is a Faust') might be less familiar.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Faustian' when using as a noun ('He is a Faustian') instead of 'He is a Faust' or 'He made a Faustian bargain.'
- Using it without the necessary cultural/literary context, making the reference obscure.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'Faustian bargain'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring directly to the character (Dr. Faustus), it is a proper noun and capitalized ('the story of Faust'). When used as a common noun meaning 'a person who makes such a bargain', it can sometimes be lowercase ('a modern faust'), but capitalization is still very common to maintain the clear allusion.
'Faust' is primarily a noun (the person). 'Faustian' is the related adjective, used to describe the bargain, pact, ambition, or nature of such a person or deal (e.g., a Faustian dilemma).
No, 'Faust' is not used as a verb in standard English. The concept is expressed with phrases like 'make a Faustian bargain' or 'sell one's soul'.
It is pronounced /faʊst/, rhyming with 'oust' or 'doust'. The 'au' is pronounced like the 'ou' in 'out'.