Hellenistic

adjective

Hel·​le·​nis·​tic ˌhe-lə-ˈni-stik How to pronounce Hellenistic (audio)
1
: of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great
2
: of or relating to the Hellenists
Hellenistically
ˌhe-lə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce Hellenistic (audio)
adverb

Examples of Hellenistic in a Sentence

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Other artifacts being returned include a Hellenistic statuette of the mythical heroine Atalanta, an aryballos depicting a battle scene from 600-500 BCE, and a Dionysian kantharos from the 4th century BCE. — Karen K. Ho For Artnews, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2025 Petra’s location linking East and West—which swiftly enriched the city and, by extension, the entire Nabataean Kingdom—is reflected in its distinctive rock-cut architecture, which infuses Nabataean architecture with Hellenistic and Byzantine features. — Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hellenistic was in 1678

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“Hellenistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hellenistic. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Hellenistic

adjective
Hel·​le·​nis·​tic ˌhel-ə-ˈnis-tik How to pronounce Hellenistic (audio)
: of or relating to the widespread Greek-based culture that developed after the conquests of Alexander the Great
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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