1
a
: a native or inhabitant of ancient or modern Greece
b
: a person of Greek descent
2
a
: the language used by the Greeks from prehistoric times to the present constituting a branch of Indo-European see Indo-European Languages Table
b
: ancient Greek as used from the time of the earliest records to the end of the second century a.d. see Indo-European Languages Table
c
often not capitalized
[translation of Latin Graecum (in the medieval phrase Graecum est; non potest legi It is Greek; it cannot be read)]
: something unintelligible
it's Greek to me
3
: a member of a Greek-letter fraternity or sorority
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece, the Greeks, or Greek
Greek architecture
2
a
b
: of or relating to an Eastern church using the Byzantine rite in Greek
c
: of or relating to the established Orthodox church of Greece
3
: of or relating to fraternities or sororities
the Greek system
Examples of Greek in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Lanthimos, director of Poor Things, The Favourite, The Lobster, and Kinds of Kindness, and a 5-time Oscar nominee, is the most famous and successful of the 158 Greek EFA members.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Revisiting ancient Greek oratory and today’s communication courses, speaking has obviously been prioritized over listening.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Greek 
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Noun
Fidelity to the text was a hallmark of his Milton and Shakespeare projects, but singing in Ancient Greek was a non-starter.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Lanthimos, director of Poor Things, The Favourite, The Lobster, and Kinds of Kindness, and a 5-time Oscar nominee, is the most famous and successful of the 158 Greek EFA members.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Many ancient Egyptian doctors were specialists, focusing on a single body part or sickness, according to the fifth-century B.C.E. Greek historian Herodotus.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Revisiting ancient Greek oratory and today’s communication courses, speaking has obviously been prioritized over listening.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Greek
Dictionary Entries Near Greek
Cite this Entry
“Greek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Greek. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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