Roman

1 of 3

noun (1)

Ro·​man ˈrō-mən 

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 

: a metrical romance

Examples of Roman in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The type should be set in roman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Casanova + Hernández Architects drew inspiration from the glaze of Chinese porcelain and the Roman tradition of mosaic, creating a three-dimensional topography of 884 irregular planes. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Legend held that the Roman race had sprung from Mount Ida in Troy, whose name Cybele bore—Magna Mater Idaea. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026

Away from Rome, and in the absence of a Roman prefect, the rose’s role as a negotiating tool intensified. — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

That could mean exploring Andalusia, traveling through Morocco, visiting Tunisia's Roman sites or combining Egypt's temples and tombs with the eclipse. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Earlier this year, Italian authorities announced the discovery of a Roman merchant shipwreck still carrying its cargo of amphorae in the Ionian Sea. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

With this time-shaping device called the Chronovisor, Father Pellegrino Ernetti professed to have seen footage of the crucified Christ and even enjoyed a lost play staged by an ancient Roman dramatist. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Roman emperors typically had tens of thousands of people serving in the Praetorian Guard; modern autocrats rely on standing armies. — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

The whole family is welcome for sheet-pan pizza and gelato, which covers how to make DIY Roman-style pizza and homemade dark chocolate and orange gelato. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 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

Phrases Containing Roman

• Holy Roman Empire
• Roman blind
• Roman candle
• Roman Catholic
• Roman Catholicism
• Roman collar
• Roman holiday
• Roman law
• Roman nose
• Roman numeral
• Roman shade
• the Roman alphabet

Rhymes for Roman

• bowmen
• coman
• foeman
• foemen
• gnomon
• nomen
• omen
• showman
• showmen
• soman
• toman
• yeoman

Kids 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 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