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
Though the Roman telescope is often compared to Hubble, which launched in 1990 and has captured some of the most dramatic and memorable views of the cosmos, Roman’s capabilities far outpace its predecessor’s. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 Roman’s own capabilities trace back to a 2010 astrophysics decadal survey, which ranked it as the scientific community's top priority for a new large space mission. — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 What makes Roman unique is its wide-angle vision and powerful infrared instruments that give it an extraordinary field of view. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The company will launch Roman into space atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The new Nancy Grace Roman space telescope is slated to launch this weekend. — Berly McCoy, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Ali’s father tilled tiny ancestral fields using an irrigation system developed during the Roman empire. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Standing urinals in the form of gutters are found at some Roman public buildings, such as the Colosseum. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 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 1 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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