Spartan
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to Sparta or its citizens
-
(sometimes not capital) very strict or austere
a Spartan upbringing
-
(sometimes not capital) possessing courage and resolve
noun
-
a citizen of Sparta
-
(sometimes not capital) a disciplined or brave person
-
a Canadian variety of eating apple
Synonym Usage
See austere.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Spartan
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin Spartānus, equivalent to Spart ( a ) Sparta (< Doric Greek Spártā ) + -ānus -an
Explanation
A spartan existence is kind of like being a monk. Your room is bare, you live simply and eat sparingly, and your sheets are probably scratchy. In ancient Greece, there were two great city states: Athens and Sparta. Athens had the artists, the good food, the great parties. Sparta had the warriors — the guys who went to bed early and drilled all day. They lived in bare rooms and didn’t get sick days or time off. A spartan life is a life of discipline and self-denial. Some people like it like that. Go figure.
Vocabulary lists containing spartan
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Prisoner B-3087
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Spartan Chemical warns that inappropriate exposure can cause the types of effects detainees experienced.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Starting out as a volunteer, across five years he progressed to manage the first team in non-league football in the Spartan South Midlands League, FA Cup and FA Vase.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
“There’s plenty for investors to worry about,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
"If people are willing to pay that price and invest for the future, that's a good sign for the market," said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
Fear washed over her, as it had in the Spartan temple.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
