Dracula
Americannoun
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(italics) a novel (1897) by Bram Stoker.
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Count, the central character in this novel: the archetype of a vampire.
Etymology
Origin of Dracula
Origin uncertain; perhaps from Romanian Drăculea, a diminutive or patronymic of drăcul “the dragon,” and derived from a knightly order called the “Order of the Dragon” ( Ordo Draconum ), founded in 1408 by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund ( 1368–1437 ), then king of Hungary, to defend Christianity and the Empire against the Ottoman Turks. After Vlad II Dracul (c. 1395–1447 ) was admitted to the order around 1431, he wore the dragon emblem of the order. Later, when Vlad II was prince of Wallachia (now part of Romania), his coinage bore the image of the dragon, from which the name Dracula is derived. Vlad II’s son, Vlad III (Vlad Ţepeş “Vlad the Impaler,” c.1431–c.1476 ) is most likely the model for the Bram Stoker character. Cf. dragon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dracula comes from Central Europe by way of the Irish novelist Bram Stoker; the werewolf is a staple of French and German folk tales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
Amid soft murmurs about necessary procedures, the state takes on the placid, gentle but utterly unyielding personality of a classic movie villain—not Dracula, Nurse Ratched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Wiseman says the show has yet to specifically talk about Bram Stoker’s bloodthirsty Count Dracula, but Port says the Halloween episode will discuss the coven’s distaste for vampire stereotypes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Unused to staying in a strange place, Dracula kept jumping off the bed and back on again, unable to get situated.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026
Okay, so I knew Dracula was a classic.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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