Standard Lemma guide

goose-step

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɡuː.stɛp/
  • /ˈɡuːs.stɛp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A style of march in which the legs advance in turn without bending the knee, whether as a low quick march or a rigorous high slow march for ceremonial occasions; the various drills associated with these marches.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, often

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A deceptive step that breaks the normal flow of running and allows a player to accelerate and/or change direction quickly while simultaneously confusing the defender.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, games, hobbies, lifestyle, rugby, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To march with a goose-step.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: typically derogatory

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From goose + step.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: патешко ходене (pateško hodene) — a style of marching
  • Catalan: pas de l'oca — a style of marching
  • Chinese Mandarin: 正步 (zhèngbù) — a style of marching
  • Danish: strækmarch — a style of marching
  • Dutch: ganzenpas — a style of marching
  • Finnish: hanhenmarssi — a style of marching
  • French: pas de l’oie — a style of marching
  • German: Stechschritt — a style of marching
  • Greek: βήμα της χήνας (víma tis chínas) — a style of marching
  • Italian: passo dell'oca — a style of marching
  • Japanese: ガチョウ足行進 (gachō-ashikōshin) — a style of marching
  • Māori: hīkoi hōkaikai — a style of marching
  • Māori: hōkaikai — a style of marching
  • Norwegian: hanemarsj — a style of marching
  • Polish: krok defiladowy — a style of marching
  • Turkish: kaz adımı — a style of marching
  • Bulgarian: ходя по патешки (hodja po pateški) — to march with a goose-step
  • Chinese Mandarin: 正步 (zhèngbù) — to march with a goose-step
  • Danish: gå i strækmarch — to march with a goose-step
  • Finnish: marssia hanhenmarssia — to march with a goose-step
  • German: im Stechschritt marschieren — to march with a goose-step
  • Māori: hīkoi hōkaikai — to march with a goose-step
  • Māori: hōkaikai — to march with a goose-step
  • Norwegian: gå i hanemarsj — to march with a goose-step
  • Polish: maszerować krokiem defiladowym — to march with a goose-step
  • Turkish: kaz adımı yürümek — to march with a goose-step