Godwin

American  

[god-win] / ˈgɒd wɪn /

noun

1. Also Godwine Earl of the West Saxons, died 1053, English statesman.

2. Gail, born 1937, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.

3. Mary Wollstonecraft 1759–97, English writer.

4. her husband William, 1756–1836, English political philosopher, novelist, and essayist.

5. a male given name: from an Old English word meaning “good friend.”

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Godwin British  

/ ˈɡɒdwɪn /

noun

1. died 1053, Earl of Wessex. He was chief adviser to Canute and Edward the Confessor. His son succeeded Edward to the throne as Harold II

2. Mary. See (Mary) Wollstonecraft

3. William. 1756–1836, British political philospher and novelist. In An Enquiry concerning Political Justice (1793), he rejected government and social institutions, including marriage. His views greatly influenced English romantic writers

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Example Sentences

William Godwin, the father of “Frankenstein” author Mary Shelley, believed that all human beings are capable of seeing their way to moral decisions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Aaron Burr, the vice president Jefferson sidelined, held up Godwin as one of his favorite authors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

He’s dedicated himself to the work, as was evident in his triumphant turn in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 2023 production of “King Lear” in Washington, D.C., directed by Simon Godwin.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

At the time of his arrest in April 2025, he was also the Mayor of the West of England, but his term came to an end in May, when he was replaced by Helen Godwin.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

“I wonder whether Miss Godwin gets a full hour for lunch or only thirty minutes. Do you think we should get some food when we leave here? At a restaurant?”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse