roman
noun
a metrical narrative, especially in medieval French literature.
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roman
1 American
[r aw-mahn]
/ rɔˈmɑ̃ /
noun
French.
romans
plural
-
a metrical narrative, especially in medieval French literature.
-
a novel.
Roman
2
American
[roh-muhn]
/ ˈroʊ mən /
adjective
-
of or relating to the ancient or modern city of Rome, or to its inhabitants and their customs and culture.
Roman restaurants.
-
of or relating to the ancient kingdom, republic, and empire whose capital was the city of Rome.
-
of a kind or character regarded as typical of the ancient Romans.
Roman virtues.
-
(usually lowercase) designating or pertaining to the upright style of printing types most commonly used in modern books, periodicals, etc., of which the main text of this dictionary is an example.
-
of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church.
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noting, pertaining to, or resembling the architecture of ancient Rome, especially the public and religious architecture, characterized by the employment of massive brick and concrete construction, with such features as the semicircular arch, the dome, and groin and barrel vaults, by the use in interiors of marble and molded stucco revetments, by the elaboration of the Greek orders as purely decorative motifs for the adornment of façades and interiors, and by an overall effect in which simplicity and grandeur of massing is often combined with much elaboration of detailing.
-
written in or pertaining to Roman numerals.
noun
-
a native, inhabitant, or citizen of ancient or modern Rome.
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the dialect of Italian spoken in Rome.
-
(usually lowercase) roman type or lettering.
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Disparaging. a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Rare. the Latin language.
-
a male given name.
Roman
1
British
/ ˈrəʊmən /
adjective
-
of or relating to Rome or its inhabitants in ancient or modern times
-
of or relating to Roman Catholicism or the Roman Catholic Church
-
denoting, relating to, or having the style of architecture used by the ancient Romans, characterized by large-scale masonry domes, barrel vaults, and semicircular arches
noun
-
a citizen or inhabitant of ancient or modern Rome
-
informal short for Roman Catholic
roman
2
British
/ ˈrəʊmən /
adjective
noun
roman
3
British
/ rɔmɑ̃ /
noun
Roman
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of roman1
First recorded in 1560–80; from Middle French, French roman; see origin at romance 1 ( def. )
Origin of Roman2
before 900; < Latin Rōmānus ( see Rome, -an); replacing Middle English Romain < Old French < Latin, as above; replacing Old English Roman ( e ) < Latin, as above
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.
Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc , 27, is on trial alongside Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Petro Pochynok, 35.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
The masquerade’s origins lie in Greek religion and Roman festivals.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The Roman Space Telescope is designed to combine a massive field of view with powerful infrared imaging capabilities, allowing scientists to study huge sections of the universe in remarkable detail.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
"Each of these defeats weakens him," Paloma Roman, a political science professor at Madrid's Complutense University, told AFP.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
A green fireball shoots out of his Roman candle with a muted thunk.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
