gargoyle

American  

[gahr-goil] / ˈgɑr gɔɪl /

noun

1. a grotesquely carved figure of a human or animal.

2. a spout, terminating in a grotesque representation of a human or animal figure with open mouth, projecting from the gutter of a building for throwing rainwater clear of a building.

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gargoyle British  

/ ˈɡɑːɡɔɪl /

noun

1. a waterspout carved in the form of a grotesque face or creature and projecting from a roof gutter, esp of a Gothic church

2. any grotesque ornament or projection, esp on a building

3. a person with a grotesque appearance

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gargoyle Cultural  

1. A sculpture depicting grotesque human shapes or evil spirits used in many buildings of the Middle Ages, most notably on Gothic cathedrals (see also cathedral). Some gargoyles drained rainwater, sending it clear of the walls of the building.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gargoyled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gargoyle

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English gargoile, from Old French gargouille, gargoule literally, “throat”; see gargle

Compare meaning

How does gargoyle compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gargoyle vs. grotesque

Explanation

Gargoyle is a fearsome word for a monster. Fortunately, it's not a real monster. It's a grotesque carved beast sticking out from the gutter of a building, especially in Gothic architecture. If you've ever seen a statue of an ugly beast coming out of the side of the building, you've seen a gargoyle. There aren't a lot of pretty, friendly looking gargoyles in the world; they usually look frightening, strange, and grotesque (which is kind of a mix of really ugly and kind of bizarre). Gargoyles have a couple purposes. For one thing, they're part of the drainage system that keeps the building from flooding. Secondly, they're so nasty-looking that they should scare off evil spirits who would do harm to the building or the people inside. Too much water and too much evil are both bad for a building.

Example Sentences

Mr Simpson and two colleagues have created all six characters which appear on the ITV show on Saturday night - Red Panda, Moth, Gargoyle, Sloth as well as Can of Worms and Disc Jockey..

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

If you cannot decide between the Classic and Gargoyle Tower climbs, we will combine the two experiences into one unforgettable tour that lasts for about 2.5 hours.

From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2017

Gargoyle is the sort of publication that has ardently scrutinized Ms. Gordon’s work over the years.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2010

Natalie Bevan knew more or less all of the London artists and was a regular at their haunt, the Gargoyle Club in Soho.

From The Guardian • Dec. 1, 2010

Gargoyle, a projecting stone water-spout in the shape of some monster, or the figure of a man from whose mouth the water runs. p.

From The Children of Westminster Abbey Studies in English History by Kingsley, Rose Georgina