Dracula

American  

[drak-yuh-luh] / ˈdræk yə lə /

noun

1. (italics) a novel (1897) by Bram Stoker.

2. Count, the central character in this novel: the archetype of a vampire.

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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

At number three, Australian band Tame Impala enter the top 10 singles chart for the first time with Dracula.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

And in fifth place at $4.5 million was Luc Besson's English-language adaptation of "Dracula," which was released in select countries outside the United States last year.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

After a century’s worth of Dracula pictures, the exposition seems a bit superfluous, and Mr. Waltz, a two-time Oscar winner, can’t do much with his dialogue, which sounds like guidance from “Vampire Stalking for Dummies.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

He latched onto Doug Bradley’s Pinhead and incorporated Voldemort, Nosferatu, Dracula and images from “The Shining,” “Insidious” and “The Prince of Darkness.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2025

Again, when, after the battle of Mohács, we threw off the Hungarian yoke, we of the Dracula blood were amongst their leaders, for our spirit would not brook that we were not free.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker