plural goats
1
a
or plural goat
: any of various hollow-horned ruminant mammals (especially of the genus Capra) related to the sheep but of lighter build and with backwardly arching horns, a short tail, and usually straight hair
especially
: one (Capra hircus) long domesticated for its milk, wool, and flesh
b
capitalized
: capricorn
2
: a licentious man : lecher
GOAT
2 of 2abbreviation or noun
variants
or less commonly G.O.A.T.
plural GOATs also G.O.A.T.s
: the greatest of all time : the most accomplished and successful individual in the history of a particular sport or category of performance or activity
As much fun as it is to debate who is the greatest in NBA history, it's pointless, a question for which there can be no definitive answer …. The list of players who could be considered the GOAT is long, and each one is worthy in his own right.—
Nancy Armour
Nancy ArmourThere's no denying what Aaron Rodgers has done in his career, but to say Rodgers is the GOAT is a big statement considering what Tom Brady has accomplished.—Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football WeeklyFormer President (and arguably the GOAT of post-presidency careers) Jimmy Carter is leasing 10 acres of his Georgia peanut farm to SolAmerica to create a 1.3MW solar array.—Walter Einenkel
Walter EinenkelIf championships alone are the measuring stick, then Michael [Jordan] is probably going to remain the popular choice as the GOAT. But if I can go on aesthetics alone, I know I'd rather watch LeBron [James].—Bob Ryan
Bob RyanExamples of goat in a Sentence
Noun
In the last inning, a home run can make you the hero, and a strikeout can make you the goat.
an unhappy childhood was the goat he used to rationalize every failure and shortcoming
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
To the untrained eye, researchers said the skull resembles the bones of a goat or horse, leading to the team naming the genus after animal sacrifices.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
Nearing the end of his career, White is considered the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) among quarterbacks, having attained eight championship rings, a number that is purposefully one more than the consensus real-life GOAT, Tom Brady.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goat
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Noun
The only movement is that of goats who nibble the long grass that grows around the Cold War aircraft wrecks that litter this forlorn spot on Grenada’s east coast.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
To the untrained eye, researchers said the skull resembles the bones of a goat or horse, leading to the team naming the genus after animal sacrifices.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Abbreviation or noun
In Cameron’s eyes, White was and is the all-out GOAT.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
Nearing the end of his career, White is considered the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) among quarterbacks, having attained eight championship rings, a number that is purposefully one more than the consensus real-life GOAT, Tom Brady.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goat
Cite this Entry
“Goat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goat. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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