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

Etymology

Origin of Corinthian

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Corinthian Corinthians

Over the weekend he posted apparent architectural mock-ups of Corinthian columns replete with lions' heads, on the White House.

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

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

Its base was a mammoth marble neoclassical museum, complete with Corinthian pillars and carved entablature.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Depay scored 20 goals in 79 appearances for Corinthians and helped them win the Copa do Brasil in 2025 and the Supercopa do Brasil this year.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 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

Lingard has already felt the intensity of the Corinthians fanbase up close, with supporters turning up at the club's training ground.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

Corinthians and Lena busied themselves picking them up, wiping the snow from the cloth on their coats, all the while peeping at the man in blue wings on the hospital roof.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison