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

• gargoyled adjective

Etymology

Origin of gargoyle

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

A host of celebrity judges have to decide whether they’re seeing an elaborate cake or Halloween decor like a jack-o-lantern, a black cat and a gargoyle.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025

Mr Palmen, 61, said: "I find the gargoyle very amusing, I'm using it as my Facebook profile picture."

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2023

An open-mouthed frown suggests the mask of Greek tragedy; a pout transforms her into a gargoyle.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2022

Another modern, and whimsical, touch is the so-called businessman or yuppie gargoyle, depicting a Gothic creature with sideburns and holding a briefcase.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 27, 2021

The officer bends forward and looms over the miniature city like some tormented gargoyle.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr