Frederick the Great

American  

noun

1. Frederick II.

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Frederick the Great British  

noun

1. official title Frederick II . 1712–86, king of Prussia (1740–86); son of Frederick William I. He gained Silesia during the War of Austrian Succession (1740–48) and his military genius during the Seven Years' War (1756–63) established Prussia as a European power. He was also a noted patron of the arts

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Example Sentences

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Frederick the Great

“To quote Frederick the Great, diplomacy without weapons is like an orchestra without instruments.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

Many agreed with Frederick the Great, who wrote in December 1775, “The only real wealth is that produced by the earth.”

From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026

His writings have intrigued heads of state from Prussia’s Frederick the Great to U.S. president Bill Clinton.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 16, 2023

The Seven Years’ War had begun in Europe in 1756 when Frederick the Great of Prussia invaded Saxony and annexed the area as part of his broader plan to expand Prussian territory.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

The new-wave composers of the mid-eighteenth century, call them what you like, were encouraged by a new generation of art-loving patrons, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, and by a growing concert-going public.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall