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Ulysses

American  
[yoo-lis-eez] / juˈlɪs iz /

noun

  1. Classical Mythology. Latin name for Odysseus.

  2. (italics) a psychological novel (1922) by James Joyce.

  3. a male given name.


Ulysses British  
/ ˈjuːlɪˌsiːz, juːˈlɪsiːz /

noun

  1. the Latin name of Odysseus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Ulysses Cultural  
  1. The Roman name of the Greek hero Odysseus.


Discover More

The Irish author James Joyce adopted the name for the title of his masterpiece of the early twentieth century, which is, in part, a retelling of the myth of Odysseus.

In the Aeneid of Virgil, which was written in Latin, Odysseus is called Ulysses.

Example Sentences

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Historians point to the period after the Civil War, when officials in the treasury department under President Ulysses Grant were involved in scandals around gold sales and customs collection, among other controversies.

From BBC Jul. 1, 2026

When President Ulysses S. Grant sent the Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia to be displayed, the public was appalled by its condition, which led the government to establish the National Archives.

From Salon Jun. 30, 2026

And if “Normal” succeeds at the box office, he’s already thinking about where Ulysses might go next.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 15, 2026

In the 19th century, Americans frequently elected victorious generals—Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant, Zachary Taylor—as president.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 1, 2026

Together, she and Ulysses could change the world.

From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo

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