ghoul: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2literary, journalistic, informal
Quick answer
What does “ghoul” mean?
A monster, especially one from Middle Eastern folklore, that is believed to rob graves and eat the flesh of the dead.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A monster, especially one from Middle Eastern folklore, that is believed to rob graves and eat the flesh of the dead.
A person with an unwholesome or obsessive interest in death, disaster, or other disturbing or macabre subjects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences in meaning. The word is used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally associated with horror, the macabre, and metaphorical criticism of morbid fascination in both regions.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation in both varieties. More likely to appear in genre fiction, film criticism, or figurative commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “ghoul” in a Sentence
[ghoul] + [verb: lurks/haunts] + [prepositional phrase: in/around]a [adjective: morbid/sensational] [ghoul][verb: to act/behave like] a [ghoul]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ghoul” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'To ghoul' is not a standard verb.
American English
- 'To ghoul' is not a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- 'Ghoulishly' is rarely used. Example: He watched the disaster footage ghoulishly.
adjective
British English
- The journalist's ghoulish fascination with the crime scene was unsettling.
- He has a rather ghoulish sense of humour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, possibly in metaphorical critique: 'The corporate ghouls picked over the remains of the bankrupt company.'
Academic
Used in studies of folklore, mythology, and horror literature/film.
Everyday
Very rare in casual talk. Used to describe someone with a morbid sense of humour or obsession.
Technical
Specific term in folklore studies and horror genre analysis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ghoul”
- Incorrect: 'I saw a scary ghoul floating through the wall.' (That's a ghost). Correct: 'The ghoul was digging up the coffin.'
- Misspelling as 'goul' or 'ghool'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In folklore and modern fiction, a ghoul is typically an intelligent, often shape-shifting creature that seeks out and consumes dead flesh, especially from graves. A zombie is usually a reanimated corpse under another's control, with less intelligence and a preference for living flesh.
More common than the noun 'ghoul'. It's used as an adjective to describe a morbid, disturbing, or macabre interest in death and disaster.
Yes, in informal contexts it can be used lightly to describe someone who loves very dark humour, gory films, or Halloween decorations. E.g., 'My brother is such a ghoul—he only watches horror movies.'
It comes from the Arabic word 'ghūl', a desert-dwelling, shape-shifting demon in pre-Islamic and Islamic folklore that consumes human flesh.
A monster, especially one from Middle Eastern folklore, that is believed to rob graves and eat the flesh of the dead.
Ghoul is usually literary, journalistic, informal in register.
Ghoul: in British English it is pronounced /ɡuːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡuːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ghoulish delight/pleasure (to take great, inappropriate pleasure in the misfortunes of others)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GHOUL' sounds like 'GRAVE' + 'HOWL' — a creature that howls in a grave.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MORBIDLY INTERESTED PERSON IS A GHOUL.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a defining characteristic of a traditional ghoul from folklore?