Polonius

noun

Po·​lo·​ni·​us pə-ˈlō-nē-əs How to pronounce Polonius (audio)
: a garrulous courtier and father of Ophelia and Laertes in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Examples of Polonius in a Sentence

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The principal cast consists of: Jared Harris as Claudius, Nancy Carroll as Gertrude, Anton Lesser, as the Ghost/First Player, Elliot Levey playing Polonius, Kel Matsena as Horatio, Lewis Shepherd as Laertes, and Nia Towle as Ophelia. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025 Roundup Editors’ Picks of 2022 Poetry, Polonius, and Prison: a collection of this year’s greatest hits from JSTOR Daily. — JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Polonius was circa 1601

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“Polonius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Polonius. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Polonius

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