Marcus Aurelius

American  

[aw-ree-lee-uhs, aw-reel-yuhs] / ɔˈri li əs, ɔˈril yəs /

noun

1. Marcus Annius Verus, a.d. 121–180, Stoic philosopher and writer: emperor of Rome 161–180.

---

Marcus Aurelius Cultural  

1. A Stoic philosopher and emperor of Rome in the second century a.d. He is best known for his Meditations, a philosophical autobiography that is a classic work of personal writing and a remarkable exposition on Stoicism.

---

Example Sentences

When an ancient bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius landed back on Turkish soil after decades abroad, it was more than a symbolic homecoming.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Despite a lustrous popular image burnished by the 2000 film “Gladiator,” Marcus Aurelius is, to scholars, a controversial figure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

The subtext is text as Lucius delivers several speeches about “the dream of Rome” that he learned about at the knee of his grandfather, Marcus Aurelius.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

This commitment to keeping it real and mustering resistance to conformity is deeply ingrained in Stoic teachings, as evident in works such as "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius and "Discourses" by Epictetus.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

He lifted the breadbox and took out a tiny volume bound in leather, and the gold tooling was almost completely worn away—The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in English translation.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck