Athenian
Americanadjective
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Athenian
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin Athēni(ēnsis) “of Athens” + -an; see -ensis
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.
The Parthenon won’t be built for another 800 years; likewise, Athenian democracy is centuries away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Instead, it closely matches Phrygians, a lesser known tragedy written by the Athenian playwright Aeschylus.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2026
The frigate Kimon is named after a 5th century BCE Athenian admiral, who was the son of the victorious general at the Battle of Marathon, Miltiadis.
From Barron's ● Jan. 15, 2026
After the Melians fail to talk themselves out of their weakness, the Athenian assembly talk themselves into the Sicilian Expedition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
All the brave Athenian talk about democracy applied only to a privileged few.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
