Thespian
Americanadjective
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(often lowercase) pertaining to tragedy or to the dramatic art in general.
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of or characteristic of Thespis.
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of or relating to Thespiae.
noun
adjective
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of or relating to Thespis
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(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.
Free; donations accepted for the Thespian Relief Fund.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2021
“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
All proceeds will be used to fund student registration and travel in June to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2018
I then briefly described myself as a 14-year-old fan and member of the school drama club, working to earn sufficient points for induction into the International Thespian Society.
From Washington Post • Mar. 30, 2016
“We could have costumes from Thoroughly freaking Thespian tomorrow! We’re so legit!”
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.
