Hellenism

American  

[hel-uh-niz-uhm] / ˈhɛl əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. ancient Greek culture or ideals.

2. the imitation or adoption of ancient Greek language, thought, customs, art, etc..

   the Hellenism of Alexandrian Jews.

3. the characteristics of Greek culture, especially after the time of Alexander the Great; civilization of the Hellenistic period.

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Hellenism British  

/ ˈhɛlɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. the principles, ideals, and pursuits associated with classical Greek civilization

2. the spirit or national character of the Greeks

3. conformity to, imitation of, or devotion to the culture of ancient Greece

4. the cosmopolitan civilization of the Hellenistic world

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Etymology

Origin of Hellenism

First recorded in 1600–10, Hellenism is from the Greek word Hellēnismós an imitation of or similarity to the Greeks. See Hellene, -ism

Example Sentences

"The monastery's property is being seized and expropriated. This spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is now facing an existential threat," he said in a statement.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025

In the east, Romans maintained a measured reverence for Greek culture, embracing some elements of Hellenism.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Thanks to new tools and techniques, the glories of Hellenism could be commodified and commercialized.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 20, 2016

So although the Maccabees started as opponents of Hellenism, they soon become among its most enthusiastic admirers and adopters.”

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2015

Among the villages of the north and east of Phrygia, Hellenism “was only beginning to make itself felt in the middle of the 3rd century A.D.”

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

Related Words

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