Minerva

American  

[mi-nur-vuh] / mɪˈnɜr və /

noun

1. the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts, identified with the Greek goddess Athena.

2. a woman of great wisdom.

3. a female given name.

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Minerva British  

/ mɪˈnɜːvə /

noun

1. Greek counterpart: Athena.  the Roman goddess of wisdom

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Minerva Cultural  

1. The Roman name of Athena, the Greek and Roman goddess of wisdom.

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Etymology

Origin of Minerva

First recorded before 1000 Minerva for def. 1; 1780–85 Minerva for def. 2; from Latin Minerva, earlier Menerva, from unattested Meneswā, perhaps meaning “intelligent, wise (woman),” or “woman who measures (the phases of the moon)”

Compare meaning

How does minerva compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Minerva vs. Athena

Example Sentences

His most spectacular paintings are frescoes, physically part of the walls of the Strozzi Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence and the Carafa Chapel in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

Two vessels, the Minerva Gloria and Searuby, were anchored at Bajo Grande on Thursday.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

Germany's Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, two-time Grand Prix Final champions and two-time world podium finishers, topped the pairs short program with a score of 77.53 points.

From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025

The figure of the woman on the state seal in one corner is Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2024

He loved his language the way Minerva had loved us, with pride and an enthusiasm of old potential repurposed.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline