Corinthian

American  

[kuh-rin-thee-uhn] / kəˈrɪn θi ən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Corinth.

2. 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.

3. ornate, as literary style.

4. luxurious or licentious.

5. 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.

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noun

• Corinthians
  plural

1. a native or inhabitant of Corinth.

2. a man about town, especially one who lives luxuriously or, sometimes, dissolutely.

3. an amateur yachtsman.

4. Manège. a horse-show class in which each contestant must be a member of a recognized hunt and wear regulation hunt livery.

Corinthian British  

/ kəˈrɪnθɪən /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to Corinth

2. of, denoting, or relating to one of the five classical orders of architecture: characterized by a bell-shaped capital having carved ornaments based on acanthus leaves See also Ionic Doric composite Tuscan

3. given to luxury; dissolute

4. ornate and elaborate

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Corinth

2. an amateur sportsman

3. rare a man about town, esp one who is dissolute

Corinthian Cultural  

1. One of the three main styles of Greek architecture (the others are Doric and Ionic). The Corinthian column is slender and fluted; the capital incorporates sculpted leaves.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Corinthians
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of Corinthian

1350–1400; Middle English Corinthi ( es ) men of Corinth (< Latin Corinthiī < Greek Korínthioi; see Corinth) + -an

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Corinthian Corinthians

He spent the beginning of his first public appearance on Wednesday talking to reporters about the marble and Corinthian columns of his new $400 million ballroom.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

Guests on the Orient Express Corinthian ship have access to custom tailoring as well as a library with 1,500 books.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 18, 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

Dug sits upright on the limo’s black Corinthian leather seat, flanked by crystal liquor decanters on one side and a TV and VCR on the other.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025

There are many slides of columns as well, various kinds of columns from various periods: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

The other new additions are 23-year-old striker Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, left-back Denner, 18, from Corinthians and 17-year-old striker Dastan Satpaev from Kairat Almaty.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

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

But former Manchester United forward Lingard, who joined Corinthians after leaving FC Seoul, is settling in well.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

Corinthians slid as close to Porter as the floor gear of the car allowed, her head resting on the seat back.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

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