golem

American  

[goh-luhm, -lem] / ˈgoʊ ləm, -lɛm /

noun

1. Jewish Folklore. a figure artificially constructed in the form of a human being and endowed with life.

2. a stupid and clumsy person; blockhead.

3. an automaton.

---

golem British  

/ ˈɡəʊlɛm /

noun

1. (in Jewish legend) an artificially created human being brought to life by supernatural means

---

Etymology

Origin of golem

First recorded in 1895–1900; (via Yiddish goylem ) from Biblical Hebrew gōlem “something wrapped together, shapeless mass; embryo”

Explanation

A golem is a magical character in Jewish folklore, a clay figure that comes to life. The earliest history of Judaism includes the oldest-known stories about golems. In the Jewish holy book the Talmud, God's formation of Adam is described as the making of a golem, shaped from mud and dust. There are many more tales of golems in Judaism, and golems also appear in Polish folktales and even stories by the Brothers Grimm. Robots and automatons are sometimes described as golems, or machines made in the form of a human being. In Hebrew, golem means "shapeless mass" or "embryo."

Example Sentences

This impulse is an ancient one: The idea that one might bind a djinn, create a golem or manipulate a god or fairy to do your bidding is inscribed deep in the human imagination.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

The golem also served as an inspiration for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2023

That humans and golems are essentially the same is the whole point; humans, for the rabbis, are also an artificial intelligence; the first being to be called a golem is Adam.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2022

We’ve been dreaming of artificial humans for thousands of years — from the singing, gold-forged Celedones of ancient Greek myth to the golem of Jewish folklore, molded from clay and animated by sacred words.

From The Verge • May 4, 2022

The golem set the scythes on the ground.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull