Pythagorean

[pi-thag-uh-ree-uhn]

adjective

1. of or relating to Pythagoras, to his school, or to his doctrines.

noun

1. a follower of Pythagoras.

Pythagorean

/ paɪˌθæɡəˈriːən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Pythagoras

2. denoting the diatonic scale of eight notes arrived at by Pythagoras and based on a succession of fifths

noun

1. a follower of Pythagoras

Other Word Forms

• post-Pythagorean adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pythagorean¹

1540–50; < Latin Pȳthagorē ( us ) (< Greek Pȳthagóreios of Pythagoras) + -an

Example Sentences

Two high school students have proved the Pythagorean theorem in a way that one early 20th-century mathematician thought was impossible: using trigonometry.

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In Plato's dialogue Meno, Socrates coaxes the Pythagorean theorem out of an uneducated boy by asking him a series of simple questions.

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Fortunately, there’s a much easier way to use the Pythagorean theorem on a job site.

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“Yeah, Pythagorean theorem,” Kelly cracked when asked what he had learned from his players.

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And they defied Bill James’ Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball that projected them to go 76-86 based on their minus-51 run differential.

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