Gorgon

American  

[gawr-guhn] / ˈgɔr gən /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. any of three sister monsters commonly represented as having snakes for hair, wings, brazen claws, and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone. Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, was beheaded by Perseus.

2. (lowercase) a mean, ugly, or repulsive woman.

---

Gorgon British  

/ ˈɡɔːɡən /

noun

1. Greek myth any of three winged monstrous sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, who had live snakes for hair, huge teeth, and brazen claws

2. informal (often not capital) a fierce or unpleasant woman

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Gorgonian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gorgon

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin Gorgōn < Greek Gorgṓ, derivative of gorgós dreadful

Example Sentences

At the same press conference Monday, Jerome Gorgon, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said Ghazali had "acted under Hezbollah's direction and control."

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The two plants, Gorgon and Wheatstone, supply about 5% of the global market, according to Chevron.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Inside the bright vestibule, the face of a protective Gorgon glowers at the visitor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Only much later would I realize that it wasn’t so much a smorgasbord of vendors as it was the Gorgon Medusa: When one head is removed, more sprout in its place.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

He was a brave little fellow and one could see that he was trying not to be scared by the Gorgon who towered above him.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl