Monster

A monster is a creature that provokes fear, awe, or disgust, often because it defies natural order or threatens human welfare. The word comes from the Latin monstrum, literally an omen or sign believed to foretell something beyond ordinary experience. In classic folklore, monsters are frequently hybrids or beings far larger or more powerful than ordinary animals.

Across cultures, monsters take many forms. Legendary beings such as dragons, hydras, ogres, giants, and werewolves populate European and Asian mythologies; vampires appear in many traditions as undead beings that feed on the living. In modern media, monsters include Frankenstein's creature, Godzilla, and various alien beings. Cryptids—creatures reported but unproven—such as Bigfoot, Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster are also labeled as monsters by some watchers.

Monsters frequently serve to mirror human concerns: moral transgression, societal fears, or the consequences of hubris and technological power. They appear as cautionary figures in tales, provide dramatic conflict in stories, and function as symbols of otherness or the unknown. Their stories evolve with culture, often reinterpreted as heroes overcoming threats or as critiques of institutions.

Today the term also extends beyond fiction. In biology, monstrous can describe anomalies or deviations from typical anatomy. In popular culture, monster films, novels, and video games continue to explore themes of danger, difference, and resilience.