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
roman : 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
a
: latin sense 1a
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Seneca, the Roman philosopher, argued that people kept getting the message of Homer’s epic poems wrong. — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Meraki Wellness, Grand Cayman Hammam is one of the world’s oldest water therapies, with Roman and Byzantine bathhouse origins but popularized in Islamic cultures in the Middle East and North Africa. — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 In addition to Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins on Night Two, the rest of The Bloodline looked to put a trio of popular WWE stars in their rearview mirror. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 This most recent find suggests that the necropolis was in continuous use from the Late Period to the end of Roman rule, adding to an understanding of burial practices at Tell El-Deir over time. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026 Photographed against a breathtaking Roman backdrop, Lady Kitty Spencer’s ceremony look was the standout of her bridal wardrobe. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 30 July 2026 In his account of the era, the Roman historian Cassius Dio described a Ceretani ambush on the general’s soldiers around 39 BCE. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026 Last fall, excavators uncovered a Roman military hospital that was later converted into a Christian sanctuary in the ancient Turkish city of Kaunos. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 The leavening effect of this movement, however, has already created a new disposition of the Roman Catholic soul. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing Roman

Rhymes for Roman

See All Rhymes for Roman

Browse Nearby Words

romal
Roman
roman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Roman. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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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
a
: latin entry 1 sense 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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