Dracula

American  

[drak-yuh-luh] / ˈdræk jə lə /

noun

1. (italics) a novel (1897) by Bram Stoker.

2. Count, the central character in this novel: the archetype of a vampire.

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Etymology

Origin of Dracula

Origin uncertain; perhaps from Romanian Drăculea, a diminutive or patronymic of drăcul “the dragon,” and derived from a knightly order called the “Order of the Dragon” ( Ordo Draconum ), founded in 1408 by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund ( 1368–1437 ), then king of Hungary, to defend Christianity and the Empire against the Ottoman Turks. After Vlad II Dracul (c. 1395–1447 ) was admitted to the order around 1431, he wore the dragon emblem of the order. Later, when Vlad II was prince of Wallachia (now part of Romania), his coinage bore the image of the dragon, from which the name Dracula is derived. Vlad II’s son, Vlad III (Vlad Ţepeş “Vlad the Impaler,” c.1431–c.1476 ) is most likely the model for the Bram Stoker character. Cf. dragon

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dracula

Unused to staying in a strange place, Dracula kept jumping off the bed and back on again, unable to get situated.

From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026

He also left his fingerprints in the company’s more supernatural side, helping introduce Marvel’s iteration of the iconic vampire Dracula as well as co-creating the original lycanthrope known as Werewolf by Night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

There was more enthusiasm from the Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish, who described Dracula as "an incredible feat of endurance" that "raises the stakes for British theatre".

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

And in fifth place at $4.5 million was Luc Besson's English-language adaptation of "Dracula," which was released in select countries outside the United States last year.

From Barron's ● Feb. 8, 2026

Ah, young sir, the Szekelys—and the Dracula as their heart’s blood, their brains, and their swords—can boast a record that mushroom growths like the Hapsburgs and the Romanoffs can never reach.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker