Corinthian
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of Corinth.
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Architecture. noting or pertaining to one of the five classical orders invented in ancient Greece and similar in most respects to the Ionic but usually of slenderer proportions, and characterized by a deep capital with a round bell decorated with acanthus leaves and a square abacus with concave sides. The Corinthian capital has typically two distinct rows of acanthus leaves above which appear eight fluted sheaths, from each of which spring two scrolls helices, of which one curls beneath a corner of the abacus as half of a volute and the other curls beneath the center of the abacus.
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ornate, as literary style.
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luxurious or licentious.
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pertaining to or designating a style of vase painting developed in Corinth, in the 7th and early 6th centuries b.c., characterized chiefly by human, animal, and ornamental motifs, painted boldly in a black figure style on a terra-cotta ground, often arranged in tiers around the vase.
noun
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Corinthians
plural
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a native or inhabitant of Corinth.
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a man about town, especially one who lives luxuriously or, sometimes, dissolutely.
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an amateur yachtsman.
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Manège. a horse-show class in which each contestant must be a member of a recognized hunt and wear regulation hunt livery.
adjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Corinth
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an amateur sportsman
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rare a man about town, esp one who is dissolute
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Corinthian
1350–1400; Middle English Corinthi ( es ) men of Corinth (< Latin Corinthiī < Greek Korínthioi; see Corinth) + -an
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.
See Examples For:
He has also hinted at changes to the North Portico's 200-year-old columns -- which are in the Ionic style and not his preferred, more ornate Corinthian style -- and have recently been covered by scaffolding.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
The brand delivered aerodynamically groundbreaking cars in the 1930s and luxurious land yachts in the ‘60s and ‘70s with “Fine Corinthian Leather.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
The building’s fluted Corinthian columns are right at home in neoclassical Washington, but they aren’t a match with the rest of the White House, with its simpler, smooth columns and Ionic capitals.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2025
It moved in 1838 to its current building where there are Corinthian columns marked with an inscription reading "Maiorvm Gloria Posteris Lvmen Est", meaning "the glory of our ancestors is a light to our descendants".
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2024
From their ranks at Corinthian Hall, Wednesday night’s audience selected a five-man committee to test Maggie and Leah and decide whether the rappings were a humbug.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
In a prerecorded video, President Donald Trump read from the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
She eventually earned a place in the Under-15 side of Corinthians, a powerhouse of South American women's football with six Copa Libertadores titles.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
Like Corinthians, United have had a turbulent season, but are on course to return to the Champions League following an upturn in form since Michael Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim as manager in January.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
But former Manchester United forward Lingard, who joined Corinthians after leaving FC Seoul, is settling in well.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
And Lena, though unforgiving as ever, was civil to him, since Corinthians had moved to a small house in Southside, which she shared with Porter.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
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.
