Mongol

American  

[mong-guhl, -gohl, mon-] / ˈmɒŋ gəl, -goʊl, ˈmɒn- /

noun

1. a member of a pastoral people now living chiefly in Mongolia.

2. Anthropology. (no longer in technical use) a person having Mongoloid characteristics.

3. any Mongolian language.

4. (often lowercase) (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) a person affected with Down syndrome.

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adjective

1. Mongolian.

Mongol ¹ British  

/ ˈmɒŋɡɒl, -ɡəl /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Mongolia, esp a nomad

2. the Mongolian language

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mongol ² British  

/ ˈmɒŋɡəl /

noun

1. a formerly used and now highly offensive name for a person affected by Down's syndrome

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Other Word Forms

• non-Mongol noun

Etymology

Origin of Mongol

First recorded in 1610–20; from French mongal, ultimately from Mongolian Mongol, possibly from mong “brave”

Example Sentences

Erdenes Mongol has a 34% stake in Oyu Tolgoi, while Rio Tinto owns the rest and manages the operation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Marco Polo was born in Venice to a merchant family in 1254 and he died here in 1324 after a quarter-century exploring the Silk Road and serving the Mongol Court.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2024

The chart extends from the islands of the North Atlantic Ocean to the Mongol empire’s Golden Horde in what is now Eastern Europe.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2023

On his first working day in Mongolia, the government feted the pope with traditional events such a parade including men on horseback dressed as ancient Mongol warriors.

From Reuters • Sep. 2, 2023

As Samir crawled over to check my knee, I said, “That’s the Mongol gunner, right?”

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri