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
roman
: roman letters or type
1
: of or relating to Rome or the people of Rome
2
a
b
: of or relating to the Latin alphabet
3
roman
: 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
Examples of Roman in a Sentence
Noun (1)
The type should be set in roman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
4 July 2026
Unearthed in 1986, archaeologists believe that the site was the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Leukaspis on the Mediterranean, which was built in the second denture and thrived until the fourth century, the ministry said.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
Victims range from 6 to 13 years old and suffered eye injuries from Roman candles, smoke bombs, and other fireworks.
—
Freddrell Green,
Kansas City Star,
4 July 2026
This year’s Venice Classics lineup will debut 19 restorations, including Cul-de-sac (1966), one of Roman Polanski’s British films, restored by Fixafilm.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
3 July 2026
On the same day, a political committee in Westerly, Rhode Island, compared the British troops to the Roman legions once dispatched to level Carthage.
—
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The small village is world-renowned for its excellent oysters, a delicacy that has been harvested here since Roman times.
—
Tia Lovisa Moreira,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2026
Winco also yanked about 13,500 Roman Candles 8 Shot 3-Pack Firework Devices.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
This avian bystander may have recognized a fellow bird of prey in Coriolanus, whose role in the Roman ecosystem is necessary yet not fit for all purposes in a young democracy beset with growing pains.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
After the United States was founded in 1776, leaders like Thomas Jefferson chose to emulate classical architecture when building its Washington, DC, capital as a nod to the democratic ideals of the Greek and Roman empires.
—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
4 July 2026
Unearthed in 1986, archaeologists believe that the site was the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Leukaspis on the Mediterranean, which was built in the second denture and thrived until the fourth century, the ministry said.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
Victims range from 6 to 13 years old and suffered eye injuries from Roman candles, smoke bombs, and other fireworks.
—
Freddrell Green,
Kansas City Star,
4 July 2026
This year’s Venice Classics lineup will debut 19 restorations, including Cul-de-sac (1966), one of Roman Polanski’s British films, restored by Fixafilm.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
3 July 2026
On the same day, a political committee in Westerly, Rhode Island, compared the British troops to the Roman legions once dispatched to level Carthage.
—
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The small village is world-renowned for its excellent oysters, a delicacy that has been harvested here since Roman times.
—
Tia Lovisa Moreira,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2026
Winco also yanked about 13,500 Roman Candles 8 Shot 3-Pack Firework Devices.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
This avian bystander may have recognized a fellow bird of prey in Coriolanus, whose role in the Roman ecosystem is necessary yet not fit for all purposes in a young democracy beset with growing pains.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Cite this Entry
“Roman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Roman. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Roman
1 of 2 noun
Ro·man
ˈrō-mən 
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 adjective1
: 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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