Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Diocletian

American  
[dahy-uh-klee-shuhn] / ˌdaɪ əˈkli ʃən /

noun

  1. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, a.d. 245–316, Illyrian soldier: emperor of Rome 284–305.


Diocletian British  
/ ˌdaɪəˈkliːʃən /

noun

  1. full name Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus. 245–313 ad , Roman emperor (284–305), who divided the empire into four administrative units (293) and instigated the last severe persecution of the Christians (303)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • post-Diocletian adjective

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.

The Museum of Rescued Art was inaugurated in June in a cavernous structure that is part of Rome’s ancient Baths of Diocletian.

From Seattle Times

Across town, Michelangelo transformed parts of the Baths of Diocletian into a monumental church.

From New York Times

He worked for the Roman emperor Diocletian, and he more or less outed himself as a Christian when he protested the torture of another Christian on the household staff.

From Los Angeles Times

“A major Roman province. You want to visit Diocletian’s Palace, don’t you?”

From Literature

And expensive: A price list issued by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early fourth century A.D. refers to this colorless glass as “Alexandrian” and values it at nearly double the price of manganese-treated glass.

From New York Times