Roman

1 of 3

noun (1)

Ro·​man ˈrō-mən How to pronounce Roman (audio)
1
a
: a native or resident of Rome
b
: a citizen of ancient Rome or of the Roman Empire
2
often offensive : roman catholic
3
not capitalized : roman letters or type

Roman

2 of 3

adjective

1
: of or relating to Rome or the people of Rome
specifically : characteristic of the ancient Romans
Roman fortitude
2
b
: of or relating to the Latin alphabet
3
not capitalized : of or relating to a type style with upright characters compare italic
4
: of or relating to the see of Rome or the Roman Catholic Church
5
: having a semicircular intrados
Roman arch
6
: having a prominent slightly aquiline bridge
a Roman nose

roman

3 of 3

noun (2)

ro·​man rō-ˈmäⁿ How to pronounce roman (audio)
: a metrical romance

Examples of Roman in a Sentence

Noun (1) The type should be set in roman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
March 15 is the Ides of March, which any Shakespeare fan will tell you is when Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman senators. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 To add an even more personal touch, the carton is embossed with Kylie’s birthday, Aug. 10, 1997, in Roman numerals. Ayesha Rajan, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 The Roman rule Femicide is a cultural phenomenon with deep roots that go back millennia. Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Gastrointestinal infection in Italy during the Roman Imperial and Longobard periods: A paleoparasitological analysis of sediment from skeletal remains and sewer drains. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The island of Host had been of interest to archaeologists because at least one Roman ship is known to have sank there, and its remains are still discernible. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 As a boy who grew up in a Catholic context, attending a Roman Catholic school, these words had a strong impact on me. Billboard Italy, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The film trilogy narrates the story of The Pasti Family, a Roman family who work in the funeral business. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 In addition to Paestum, famous for its splendid ancient Greek temples, there are other notable sites, like Velia, a Greek, then Roman city; and Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula, a medieval monastery complex. Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Roman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

partly from Middle English, from Old English, from Latin Romanus, adjective & noun, from Roma Rome; partly from Middle English Romain, from Anglo-French, from Latin Romanus

Noun (2)

French, from Old French romans romance

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Roman was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Roman

Cite this Entry

“Roman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Roman. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Roman

1 of 2 noun
Ro·​man ˈrō-mən How to pronounce Roman (audio)
1
a
: a person born or living in Rome
b
: a citizen of the Roman Empire
2
not capitalized : roman letters or type

Roman

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to Rome or the Romans or the empire of which Rome was the original capital
2
b
: of or relating to the Latin language
3
not capitalized : of or relating to a type style with upright characters (as in "these definitions")
4
: of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church
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