Thespian
Americanadjective
-
(often lowercase) pertaining to tragedy or to the dramatic art in general.
-
of or characteristic of Thespis.
-
of or relating to Thespiae.
noun
adjective
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of or relating to Thespis
-
(usually not capital) of or relating to drama and the theatre; dramatic
noun
Etymology
Origin of Thespian
Explanation
Thespian is a fancy word for actor. Since this word is related to Thespis, the guy who first took the stage in Ancient Greece, you can feel real scholarly using the word thespian. As an adjective, you can use the word thespian to describe something that is related to drama. If you enjoy theater, you can say you enjoy thespian pursuits. Many high school drama clubs offer Thespian status to club members who earn a certain number of points by acting in shows or working on backstage tech for them. Note that the word thespian is sometimes capitalized because it is taken from a person's name.
Vocabulary lists containing thespian
Speak
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Occupations
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Curtain Call: Dance and Theater Terms
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the end of the video shoot, Marquardt is seen on the tape referencing an old “Saturday Night Live” routine featuring Jon Lovitz as Master Thespian, the comic’s portrayal of a pompous actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025
Along the way in 2014, “totally just on a whim,” he co-founded a theater collective, Young Hot Thespian.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2022
“A stunning clotheshorse upon whom no discernible Thespian demands were made,” wrote Jack Gould, the television critic for The New York Times.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2019
This is the festival where Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader first demonstrated their Serious Thespian Skills in the family drama “The Skeleton Twins.”
From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2016
Sahil pulled up the Thoroughly Thespian website and we all drooled over the stuff they have to offer.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
