Seleucid

American  

[si-loo-sid] / sɪˈlu sɪd /

noun

Seleucidae plural

1. a member of a Macedonian dynasty, 312–64 b.c., that ruled an empire that included much of Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, Bactria, and Babylonia.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Seleucids or their dynasty.

Seleucid British  

/ sɪˈluːsɪdən, sɪˈluːsɪd /

noun

1. a member of a royal dynasty (312–64 _bc ) that at the zenith of its power ruled over an area extending from Thrace to India

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or supporting the Seleucids or their dynasty

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Seleucidan
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• Seleucidae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Seleucid

1850–55; < New Latin Seleucidēs < Greek Seleukídēs “offspring of Seleucus ( def. ) ”; see -id ¹

Example Sentences

The festival celebrates the victory of the Jewish Maccabees against the Greek-led Seleucid Empire, which sought to eradicate Judaism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Hanukkah itself celebrates an ancient Jewish victory over the Seleucid Empire, which sought to impose Hellenistic culture and forced assimilation in Judea.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2024

In 175 B.C. the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes came into power and tried to force Judeans to assimilate.

From National Geographic • Dec. 7, 2023

Philip’s defeat emboldened the king of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus III, to advance his army into Greece, hoping to obtain the territory Philip had vacated.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

According to one source, he also pivoted north in time to repulse a Seleucid counterattack against Egypt.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro