Goethe, Johann Wolfgang vonGoe‧the, Jo‧hann Wolf‧gang von /ˈɡɜːtə $ ˈɡəʊ-, ˈjəʊhæn ˈwʊlfɡæŋ vɒn $ -hɑːn- -vɑːn/(1749–1832) a German poet and scientist, and one of the best-known writers of plays and books of all time, known especially for his play Faust