frankenstein
/ˈfræŋ.kən.staɪn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A monster made from body parts sewn together, first created in Mary Shelley's novel. People also use it for something badly made that becomes hard to control.
- The film shows Frankenstein as a huge, scary monster.
- This law became a Frankenstein of mixed rules.
Adinary Nuance
Frankenstein is not the same as monster. A monster is any frightening creature, but Frankenstein usually refers to Mary Shelley's created being, or to something you made that later feels out of control. Writers choose Frankenstein when they want a stronger literary or metaphorical feeling. Use monster for a general scary creature.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Quái vật Frankenstein
- Spanish
- Frankenstein
- Chinese
- 弗兰肯斯坦
- Japanese
- フランケンシュタイン
- Korean
- 프랑켄슈타인
Etymology
Mary Shelley used the name in her 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The word later became a common name for the monster and for a creation that turns dangerous.
Common phrases
Frankenstein's monstera Frankenstein creationa Frankenstein of a system
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is Frankenstein the monster or the scientist?
- In the novel, Frankenstein is the scientist, Victor Frankenstein. But many people use Frankenstein for the monster too.
- Is Frankenstein used in everyday English?
- Yes, but mostly in stories, film, and metaphor. People use it for something badly assembled or hard to control.
- What's the difference between Frankenstein and monster?
- Monster is general. Frankenstein is the specific literary name, often with a more dramatic feel.