Spartan

American  

[spahr-tn] / ˈspɑr tn /

adjective

1. Also Spartanic of or relating to Sparta or its people.

2. (usually lowercase) suggestive of the ancient Spartans; sternly disciplined and rigorously simple, frugal, or austere.

3. (usually lowercase) brave; undaunted.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Sparta.

2. a person of Spartan characteristics.

Spartan British  

/ ˈspɑːtən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Sparta or its citizens

2. (sometimes not capital) very strict or austere

   a Spartan upbringing

3. (sometimes not capital) possessing courage and resolve

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noun

1. a citizen of Sparta

2. (sometimes not capital) a disciplined or brave person

3. a Canadian variety of eating apple

Related Words

See austere.

Other Word Forms

• Spartanically adverb
• Spartanism noun
• Spartanly adverb
• non-Spartan adjective

Etymology

Origin of Spartan

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin Spartānus, equivalent to Spart ( a ) Sparta (< Doric Greek Spártā ) + -ānus -an

Explanation

A spartan existence is kind of like being a monk. Your room is bare, you live simply and eat sparingly, and your sheets are probably scratchy. In ancient Greece, there were two great city states: Athens and Sparta. Athens had the artists, the good food, the great parties. Sparta had the warriors — the guys who went to bed early and drilled all day. They lived in bare rooms and didn’t get sick days or time off. A spartan life is a life of discipline and self-denial. Some people like it like that. Go figure.

Example Sentences

The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

“That’s relieving to the market,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

Imperial overreach comes home: financial crisis, a Spartan fleet off the coast of Attica and an oligarchic coup in Athens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

He ran marathons and finished grueling Spartan Races.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

“And he’ll have to put up with rather Spartan accommodations in the attic, because my library has grown a great deal over the last few years. Nearly all my guest bedrooms are full of books.”

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke