gnomic
1 Americanadjective
adjective
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like or containing gnomes or aphorisms.
-
of, relating to, or noting a writer of aphorisms, especially any of certain Greek poets.
adjective
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consisting of, containing, or relating to gnomes or aphorisms
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of or relating to a writer of such sayings
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of gnomic1
First recorded in 1805–15; gnome 1 + -ic
Origin of gnomic2
From the Greek word gnōmikós, dating back to 1805–15. See gnome 2, -ic
Explanation
A phrase that's short, catchy, and clever can be described as gnomic. Your grandmother's famous gnomic aphorisms include "Pet a cat and you've got a job for life!" The root of this word is the Greek gnome, "an opinion." Ancient Greeks had an entire genre devoted to what they called gnomes (today generally referred to as gnomic poetry): pithy, meaningful phrases that rhymed. Gnomic verse started out expressing strong moral and religious opinions. These gnomes have evolved into truisms and adages that are easy to remember but not always widely understood, like the gnomic idea that "a penny saved is a penny earned."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wittgenstein’s central thesis is bold and bracing, while his gnomic aphorisms invite multiple, contradictory interpretations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025
The movie does signal its darkly comedic aims from the moment we first see the actor’s gnomic man-child frown, which by now is a ready signifier of emotional and psychological deficiency.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2023
It’s slightly gnomic, this distinction, but it suggests that while Susiraja’s works can be amusing, unexpected and shocking, they are never at anyone’s expense.
From New York Times • May 31, 2023
In this newly annotated edition, Reiner Stach — who knows more about Kafka’s life than anyone else alive — provides data-rich, facing-page commentary for each gnomic observation.
From Washington Post • Jun. 1, 2022
I wasn’t sure what to make of this gnomic utterance.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
