Spartan

American  

[spahr-tn] / ˈspɑr tn /

adjective

1. Also Spartanic of or relating to Sparta or its people.

2. (usually lowercase) suggestive of the ancient Spartans; sternly disciplined and rigorously simple, frugal, or austere.

3. (usually lowercase) brave; undaunted.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Sparta.

2. a person of Spartan characteristics.

Spartan British  

/ ˈspɑːtən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Sparta or its citizens

2. (sometimes not capital) very strict or austere

   a Spartan upbringing

3. (sometimes not capital) possessing courage and resolve

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noun

1. a citizen of Sparta

2. (sometimes not capital) a disciplined or brave person

3. a Canadian variety of eating apple

Related Words

See austere.

Other Word Forms

• Spartanically adverb
• Spartanism noun
• Spartanly adverb
• non-Spartan adjective

Etymology

Origin of Spartan

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin Spartānus, equivalent to Spart ( a ) Sparta (< Doric Greek Spártā ) + -ānus -an

Example Sentences

The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

“That’s relieving to the market,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

After being consulted by the referee, it appears Tom Izzo asks former Spartan, Paul Davis, to leave his seat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

This broke down by degrees, critically in the Sicilian Expedition of 415-413 B.C., when Athens tried and failed to annex Syracuse, a Spartan ally.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

It was partly because of our complaining, and the desire to show us how the Spartan boy would have had his tonsils out, that Dad decided to have only a local anesthetic for his operation.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey