Sparta

American  

[spahr-tuh] / ˈspɑr tə /

noun

1. an ancient city in S Greece: the capital of Laconia and the chief city of the Peloponnesus, at one time the dominant city of Greece: famous for strict discipline and training of soldiers.

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Sparta British  

/ ˈspɑːtə /

noun

1. an ancient Greek city in the S Peloponnese, famous for the discipline and military prowess of its citizens and for their austere way of life

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Sparta Cultural  

1. An ancient Greek city-state and rival of Athens (see also Athens). Sparta was known for its militaristic government and for its educational system designed to train children to be devoted citizens and brave soldiers. Sparta defeated Athens in the Peloponnesian War.

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Discover More

The term Spartan is used to describe conditions that are low on luxury and designed to produce discipline.

Example Sentences

He also owns leading Czech football club Sparta Prague, is the largest shareholder in supermarket chain Sainsbury's and, since April 2025, Royal Mail.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

When the Middle East disruptions hit, jet-fuel cracks — the profits a refiner makes by refining crude into jet fuel — spiked sharply, said Nikolas Plonski, oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

The cargo ship Sparta is under Treasury Department sanctions, as is its owner, SC South LLC, and its parent company, Oboronlogistics LLC, which says its primary business is logistics for the Russian Defense Ministry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

The bizarre social system from which Sparta derived its strength goes back to its early history.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

‘Poison in Pylos? A chained god’s heartbeat in Sparta? A curse in Delos? Oh, yeah. This is gonna be fun!’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan