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• Faustian
  Faustian

  adjective

  of, relating to, or characteristic of Faust.
• faustian
  faustian

  adjective

  of or relating to Faust, esp reminiscent of his bargain with the devil

Faustian

American  

[fou-stee-uhn] / ˈfaʊ sti ən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Faust.

   a Faustian novel.

2. sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain.

   a Faustian pact with the Devil.

3. characterized by spiritual dissatisfaction or torment.

4. possessed with a hunger for knowledge or mastery.

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faustian British  

/ ˈfaʊstɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Faust, esp reminiscent of his bargain with the devil

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Etymology

Origin of Faustian

First recorded in 1875–80; Faust + -ian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Faustian faustian

OpenAI considers a Faustian bargain with the U.S. government.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

That’s what made Brady Corbet’s “Vox Lux” — which should be considered the preeminent examination of the contemporary pop star — so beguiling: It saw fame as a Faustian pact with the devil.

From Salon ● May 19, 2025

But the way in which he gives his loved ones up for dead is either an acceptance of futility or a compromise of conscience even more chilling than Riefenstahl’s Faustian pact with Hitler.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2024

“The Apprentice,” which is labeled as inspired by true events, portrays Trump’s dealings with Cohn as a Faustian bargain that guided his rise as a businessman and, later, as a politician.

From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2024

The Faustian bargain between humans and grains was not the only deal our species made.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

What these films do share is a critique of the music industry and the faustian pact entered into by musicians and their fans.

From The Guardian ● May 24, 2019