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Polonius

American  
[puh-loh-nee-uhs] / pəˈloʊ ni əs /

noun

  1. the sententious father of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet.


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.

To keep up the “Hamlet” ties, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern show up, as a pair of henchmen trying to stop Scarlet, and there are cameos by Laertes and his father, Polonius.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

Bushy-browed Waterston began his acting career as a stage actor in New York with a number of Shakespeare roles, including Lear, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Prospero, Leonato, Prince Hal, Silvius, Cloten and Benedict.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

Daniel Pearce makes of Polonius a hilariously pedantic desk jockey and bad idea bear.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2023

His Polonius prates on foolishly without losing his essential dignity.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2022

“Is it Polonius? Who runs away? Halt!” growled Edmund, staggering forward.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein