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
The bathing station was discovered at the archaeological site of Vrelo-Šarkamen, a fourth-century residential complex that was occupied by the Roman emperor Maximinus Daza during his reign from 310 to 313 CE. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 It was established as a Roman city, declined during the Middle Ages, and was reborn during the Renaissance. — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 The infamous explosion covered Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic debris, immortalizing the final moments of the ancient Roman cities and some of their unfortunate inhabitants in stunning detail. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 Less an Italian island than a heady myth, this four-square-mile limestone dollop in the Tyrrhenian Sea has been a precipitous theatre to human nature since Roman times. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 At the time, Stasolla confirmed that her team had uncovered ancient seeds and pollen in layers dating between the site's use as a quarry and its later Roman occupation. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Given the then-widespread assumption that the Greek and Roman past was superior to the present in all aspects of life (except perhaps religion), Renaissance scholars and creators strove to imitate classical antiquity. — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized by Pope Paul VI, becoming the first person born in what's now the United States to be named a Roman Catholic saint. — USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Here, the classical beauty of the Roman statues resonates with the looming grandeur of turbines and boilers that powered industrial modernity. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 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 7 Sep. 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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