Peloponnesian War

American  

noun

1. a war between Athens and Sparta, 431–404 b.c., that resulted in the transfer of hegemony in Greece from Athens to Sparta.

---

Peloponnesian War British  

noun

1. a war fought for supremacy in Greece from 431 to 404 _bc , in which Athens and her allies were defeated by the league centred on Sparta

---

Peloponnesian War Cultural  

1. A long war between the Greek city-states of Athens (see also Athens) and Sparta in the fifth century b.c. Sparta won the war.

---

Discover More

The historian Thucydides fought in the Peloponnesian War and later wrote a remarkable history about it.

Example Sentences

In the early days of the Peloponnesian War, 150 Athenian ships stood ready to sail against Sparta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Among other things, Spartan isolationism born of paranoia gave Athens free rein to throw its own weight around, leading to the Peloponnesian War.

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2024

Stop and chat with Paul, in other words, and you may walk away bruised of ego, wrinkled of nose and renewed in your determination to know as little as possible about the Peloponnesian War.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2023

It was based on the ancient historian’s observation that the real cause of the Peloponnesian War “was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023

But just as optimism has its dark side, the Peloponnesian War was not without its bright spots, at least in terms of literature.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood