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

Example Sentences

A bad outcome for this weekend’s meeting would be marked by collapsed talks over the Lebanon issue or over shipping disputes, said Neil Crosby, head of oil research at Sparta Commodities, in an email.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Sparta warned that the timeline would extend further if Gulf infrastructure damage requires significant repair to facilities, including refineries, pipelines and terminals.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

After more than two years of war, Oze says her family has grown accustomed to, and exhausted by, life in this modern-day Sparta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that even with the pipeline flows, there are still around 10 million barrels that will be stuck in the Persian Gulf, according to analytics firm Sparta Commodities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Piper thought about her dad’s most famous movie, King of Sparta, and how the Spartans were portrayed as invincible supermen.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan