john

[ jon ]

/ dʒɒn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR john ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Slang.

a toilet or bathroom.

(sometimes initial capital letter) a fellow; guy.

(sometimes initial capital letter) a prostitute's customer.

Nearby words

Origin of john

generic use of the proper name

Definition for john (2 of 24)

John

[ jon ]

/ dʒɒn /

noun

the apostle John, believed to be the author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the book of Revelation.

John the Baptist.

John Lackland, 1167?–1216, king of England 1199–1216; signer of the Magna Carta 1215 (son of Henry II of England).

Augustus Edwin,1878–1961, British painter and etcher.

EltonReginald Kenneth Dwight, born 1947, English rock singer, pianist, and songwriter.

the fourth Gospel.

any of the three Epistles of John: I, II, or III John.

a male given name.

Origin of John

Middle English John, Johan, Jon < Medieval Latin Jō(h)annēs < Greek Iōánnēs < Hebrew Yōhānān, derivative of Yehōhānān God has been gracious

Definition for john (3 of 24)

Barleycorn

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

/ ˈbɑr liˌkɔrn /

noun

John. John Barleycorn.

Definition for john (4 of 24)

John I

noun

Saint,died a.d. 526, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 523–526.

the Great, 1357–1433, king of Portugal 1385–1433.

Definition for john (5 of 24)

John II

noun

Mercurius, died a.d. 535, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 533–535.

Definition for john (6 of 24)

John III

noun

Catelinus, died a.d. 574, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 561–574.

John Sobieski, 1624–96, king of Poland 1674–96.

Definition for john (7 of 24)

John IV

noun

died a.d. 642, pope 640–642.

Definition for john (8 of 24)

John V

noun

died a.d. 686, pope 685–686.

Definition for john (9 of 24)

John VI

noun

died a.d. 705, Greek ecclesiastic: pope 701–705.

Definition for john (10 of 24)

John VII

noun

died a.d. 707, Greek ecclesiastic: pope 705–707.

Definition for john (11 of 24)

John VIII

noun

died a.d. 882, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 872–882.

Definition for john (12 of 24)

John IX

noun

died a.d. 900, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 898–900.

Definition for john (13 of 24)

John X

noun

died a.d. 929?, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 914–928.

Definition for john (14 of 24)

John XI

noun

died a.d. 936, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 931–936.

Definition for john (15 of 24)

John XII

noun

Octavian, died a.d. 964, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 955–964.

Definition for john (16 of 24)

John XIII

noun

died a.d. 972, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 965–972.

Definition for john (17 of 24)

John XIV

noun

died a.d. 984, pope 983–984.

Definition for john (18 of 24)

John XV

noun

died a.d. 996, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 985–996.

Definition for john (19 of 24)

John XVII

noun

Sicco, died 1003, pope 1003.

Definition for john (20 of 24)

John XVIII

noun

Fasanus, died 1009, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 1003–09.

Definition for john (21 of 24)

John XIX

noun

died 1032, pope 1024–32.

Definition for john (22 of 24)

John XXI

noun

Petrus Hispanus, died 1277, Portuguese ecclesiastic: pope 1276–77.

Definition for john (23 of 24)

John XXII

noun

Jacques Duèse, c1244–1334, French ecclesiastic: pope 1316–34.

Definition for john (24 of 24)

John XXIII

noun

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, 1881–1963, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 1958–63.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for john

A few years back, designer John Galliano was fined by the government for sharing just such anti-semitic sentiments in public.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
NEW ORLEANS — John Boehner was reelected House Speaker yesterday by his Republican colleagues despite some dissenting members.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And similar shards of enthusiasm-killing kryptonite are lodged in John Kasich, Mike Pence and Ted Cruz.
Why This Liberal Hearts Huckabee|Sally Kohn|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As it currently stands, the Via Dolorosa follows the account given in the Gospel of John.
Oops! Jesus’ Last Steps Are in the Wrong Place|Candida Moss|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

By contrast, John McCain, the eventual GOP nominee, had raised approximately $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2007 alone.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
John Lawson did not say another word; he turned away and slowly descended the stairs, and walked out of the house.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Volume 1, No. 3, August, 1850.|Various
I expect that twenty-one of her girls have refused John Gesner, laughed Mr. Wadsworth.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
This circumstance possessed no connection with John Grimbal.
Children of the Mist|Eden Phillpotts
John went out from Lillies presence rather humbled and over-crowed.
Pink and White Tyranny|Harriet Beecher Stowe
Burial became too gigantic a labor, and John and Simon ordered the bodies thrown over the walls to prevent pestilence.
The City of Delight|Elizabeth Miller

British Dictionary definitions for john (1 of 10)

john

/ (dʒɒn) /

noun

mainly US and Canadian a slang word for lavatory (def. 1)

slang, mainly US a prostitute's client

Australian slang short for John Hop

Word Origin for john

C20: special use of the proper name

British Dictionary definitions for john (2 of 10)

John

/ (dʒɒn) /

noun

New Testament

the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, identified with the author of the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation. Feast day: Dec 27 or Sept 26
the fourth Gospel
any of three epistles (in full The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John)

See John the Baptist

known as John Lackland. 1167–1216, king of England (1199–1216); son of Henry II. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I, having previously tried to usurp the throne. War with France led to the loss of most of his French possessions. After his refusal to recognize Stephen Langton as archbishop of Canterbury an interdict was imposed on England (1208–14). In 1215 he was compelled by the barons to grant the Magna Carta

called the Fearless . 1371–1419, duke of Burgundy (1404–19). His attempt to control the mad king Charles VI and his murder of the king's brother led to civil war: assassinated

Augustus (Edwin). 1878–1961, British painter, esp of portraits

Barry born 1945, Welsh Rugby Union footballer: halfback for Wales (1966–72) and the British Lions (1968–71)

Sir Elton (Hercules). original name Reginald Dwight. born 1947, British rock pianist, composer, and singer; his hits include "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) and "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997), a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales

Gwen, sister of Augustus John. 1876–1939, British painter, working in France: noted esp for her portraits of women

British Dictionary definitions for john (3 of 10)

barleycorn

/ (ˈbɑːlɪˌkɔːn) /

noun

a grain of barley, or barley itself

an obsolete unit of length equal to one third of an inch

British Dictionary definitions for john (4 of 10)

John I

noun

surnamed Tzimisces . 925–976 ad, Byzantine emperor (969–976): extended Byzantine power into Bulgaria and Syria

called the Great. 1357–1433, king of Portugal (1385–1433). He secured independence for Portugal by his victory over Castile (1385) and initiated Portuguese overseas expansion

British Dictionary definitions for john (5 of 10)

John II

noun

called the Good . 1319–64, king of France (1350–64): captured by the English at Poitiers (1356) and forced to sign treaties (1360) surrendering SW France to England

called the Perfect . 1455–95, king of Portugal (1481–95): sponsored Portuguese expansion in the New World and reduced the power of the aristocracy

surnamed Casimir Vasa . 1609–72, king of Poland (1648–68), who lost much territory to neighbouring countries: abdicated

British Dictionary definitions for john (6 of 10)

John III

noun

1507–57, king of Portugal (1521–57): his reign saw the expansion of the Portuguese empire overseas but the start of economic decline at home

surnamed Sobieski. 1624–96, king of Poland (1674–96). He raised the Turkish siege of Vienna (1683)

British Dictionary definitions for john (7 of 10)

John IV

noun

called the Fortunate . 1604–56, king of Portugal (1640–56). As duke of Braganza he led a revolt against Spanish rule and became king: lost most of Portugal's Asian possessions to the Dutch

British Dictionary definitions for john (8 of 10)

John VI

noun

?1769–1826, king of Portugal (1816–26): recognized the independence of Brazil (1825)

British Dictionary definitions for john (9 of 10)

John XXII

noun

original name Jacques Duèse. ?1244–1334, pope (1316–34), residing at Avignon; involved in a long conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV and opposed the Franciscan Spirituals

British Dictionary definitions for john (10 of 10)

John XXIII

noun

original name Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. 1881–1963, pope (1958–63). He promoted ecumenism and world peace and summoned the second Vatican Council (1962–65)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for john (1 of 3)

John

masc. proper name, mid-12c., from Medieval Latin Johannes, from Late Latin Joannes, from Greek Ioannes, from Hebrew Yohanan (longer form y'hohanan) literally "Jehovah has favored," from hanan "he was gracious."

As the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, it was one of the most common Christian given names, and in England by early 14c. it rivaled William in popularity. The Old French form was Jean, but in England its variants Johan, Jehan yielded Jan, Jen (cf. surname Jensen). Welsh form was Ieuan (see Evan), but Ioan was adopted for the Welsh Authorized Version of the Bible, hence frequency of Jones as a Welsh surname.

Word Origin and History for john (1 of 3)

john

"toilet," 1932, probably from jakes, used for "toilet" since 15c. Meaning "prostitute's customer" is from 1911, probably from the common, and thus anonymous, name by which they identified themselves. Meaning "policeman" is 1858, from shortening of johndarm, jocular anglicization of gendarme.

Word Origin and History for john (2 of 3)

barleycorn

late 14c., from barley + corn (n.). Perhaps to distinguish the barley plant or the grain from its products. In Britain and U.S., the grain is used mainly to prepare liquor, hence personification as John Barleycorn (1620) in popular ballad, and many now-obsolete figures of speech, e.g. to wear a barley cap (16c.) "to be drunk."

john

noun Slang.

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Nearby words

Origin of john

Definition for john (2 of 24)

John

noun

Origin of John

Definition for john (3 of 24)

Barleycorn

noun

Definition for john (4 of 24)

John I

noun

Definition for john (5 of 24)

John II

noun

Definition for john (6 of 24)

John III

noun

Definition for john (7 of 24)

John IV

noun

Definition for john (8 of 24)

John V

noun

Definition for john (9 of 24)

John VI

noun

Definition for john (10 of 24)

John VII

noun

Definition for john (11 of 24)

John VIII

noun

Definition for john (12 of 24)

John IX

noun

Definition for john (13 of 24)

John X

noun

Definition for john (14 of 24)

John XI

noun

Definition for john (15 of 24)

John XII

noun

Definition for john (16 of 24)

John XIII

noun

Definition for john (17 of 24)

John XIV

noun

Definition for john (18 of 24)

John XV

noun

Definition for john (19 of 24)

John XVII

noun

Definition for john (20 of 24)

John XVIII

noun

Definition for john (21 of 24)

John XIX

noun

Definition for john (22 of 24)

John XXI

noun

Definition for john (23 of 24)

John XXII

noun

Definition for john (24 of 24)

John XXIII

noun

Examples from the Web for john

British Dictionary definitions for john (1 of 10)

john

noun