Frankenstein
Americannoun
-
a person who creates a monster or a destructive agency that cannot be controlled or that brings about the creator's ruin.
-
Also called Frankenstein monster. the monster or destructive agency itself.
noun
-
a person who creates something that brings about his ruin
-
Also called: Frankenstein's monster. a thing that destroys its creator
Discover More
Frequently the subject of horror films, the monster is usually pictured with an oversized square brow, metal bolts in his neck and forehead, and greenish skin. People often mistakenly refer to the monster, rather than to his creator, as “Frankenstein.”
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of Frankenstein
First recorded in 1830–40; after a character in Mary Shelley's novel of the same name (1818)
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.
Ward added that “I’d rather drink full-sugar, Mexican Coke or, shock, Pepsi Zero, than allow the soulless Frankenstein monster known as Diet Coke to pass my lips.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Other winners included Frankenstein, which won three technical prizes - best costume design, production design, and make-up and hairstyling - and racing thriller F1, which won best sound.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel has Dr. Frankenstein bicker with his creature about her potential existence before deciding against it in fear that “she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her mate.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
One Battle After Another won the most awards with six, followed by I Swear, Sinners and Frankenstein, which got three each, while Hamnet won two.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
And, also, maybe this is selfish of me, but I didn’t want people to come after this new chicken with pitchforks, like they did with Frankenstein.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
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.
