werewolf
noun
ˈwir-
ˈwər-
ˈwir-
Did you know?
Although English sometimes makes use of other words for howling humanoid beasties, werewolf is the leader of the pack. It’s also an ancient word, tracing all the way back to the Old English werwulf, and before that to a prehistoric predecessor that also left its paw prints on German (Werwolf) and Dutch (weerwolf). Synonyms for werewolf in English include the obscure lycanthrope, which has roots in two Greek words (lykos, meaning "wolf," and anthrōpos, meaning "human being"), and loup-garou, which comes from Old French. Whichever you use, the lycanthropic creatures these words refer to most often assume wolf form during a full moon—at least in works of fiction. There are no credible studies to date on the behavior of real-life werewolves, as scientists have yet to find the silver bullet that proves they exist.
Examples of werewolf in a Sentence
John Darnielle, Pitchfork, 24 July 2025
An American Werewolf in London' (1981) American dudes backpacking in England get attacked by a werewolf, one of them becomes a beastly nuisance on the full moon, and things get bloody freaky in old London Town.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Created with rotoscope animation, Dog of God is set in the 17th century and focuses on a woman accused of witchcraft and how her trial uncovers the existence of a werewolf.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
Most notable is Dave Bautista's lead performance as bounty hunter Boyce, who is tasked with escorting a witch into a post-apocalyptic wasteland in search of a werewolf's pelt to give to an evil queen.
—PC Magazine, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for werewolf
Cite this Entry
“Werewolf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/werewolf. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
werewolf
noun
ˈwe(ə)r-
ˈwər-
Old English werwulf "werewolf," from wer "man" and wulf "wolf"
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