Gaunt
ɡɔːnt
Definitions
Thin and weak, especially because of illness or suffering.
ɡɔːnt
Very thin and bony, especially from sickness or hunger.
The survivors of the shipwreck were gaunt after weeks at sea.
💡 Simply: Think of someone who looks really skinny because they haven't been eating well or are sick. Their face might look hollow and their bones might stick out a bit. It’s like seeing someone who’s had a really tough time.
👶 For kids: When someone looks super skinny and their bones show a little bit, like they haven't been eating enough.
More Examples
Her face was gaunt from the long hours of studying.
The painting depicted a gaunt and weary warrior.
How It's Used
"The patient's gaunt appearance was a sign of his prolonged illness."
"The gaunt figure of the old man haunted the crumbling mansion."
From Middle English *gaunt*, from Old French *gant* or *gaunt* meaning 'thin', 'lean', possibly of Germanic origin.
Used in literature to describe figures marked by hardship, suffering or age. Found in descriptions of the ill, the starved and even characters whose appearance reflects an inner state.
Memory tip
Imagine a ghost (gaunt) – thin and spectral.