Byzantine

1 of 2

adjective

Byz·​an·​tine ˈbi-zᵊn-ˌtēn How to pronounce Byzantine (audio)
ˈbī-,
-ˌtīn;
bə-ˈzan-ˌtēn,
bī-ˈzan- How to pronounce Byzantine (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient city of Byzantium
Byzantine art
2
architecture : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire especially in the fifth and sixth centuries featuring the dome carried on pendentives over a square and incrustation with marble veneering and with colored mosaics on grounds of gold
3
Christianity : of or relating to the churches using a traditional Greek rite and subject to Eastern (see eastern sense 2) canon law
4
often not capitalized
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation
a Byzantine power struggle
b
: intricately involved : labyrinthine
rules of Byzantine complexity

Byzantine

2 of 2

noun

: a native or inhabitant of Byzantium

Did you know?

Byzantine, a Word for History Buffs

Today, the city that lies on the Bosporus Strait in Turkey is named Istanbul, but it was once known as Constantinople (a name given to it when it became the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire), and in ancient times, it was called Byzantium. Its history is exotic—filled with mystics, wars, and political infighting—and over time the word Byzantine (from Late Latin Byzantinus, the name for a native of Byzantium) became synonymous with anything characteristic of the city or empire, from architecture to intrigue. The figurative sense referring to a devious manner of operation first appeared in the late 1930s. It was popularized by frequent use in reference to the Soviet Union, whose secrecy and despotism were equated by Westerners with what went on in the old Byzantine Empire.

Examples of Byzantine in a Sentence

Adjective spent his first year at the Pentagon just trying to fathom its byzantine workings
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Izmir at first seems to be just a sprawling, modern city but tucked in alongside the contemporary buildings in the city center are vestiges of the settlement founded by the Greeks in the 11th century B.C. and subsequently occupied under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule. Laurie Werner, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 Ashland, Oregon Shining Hand Ranch blends Spanish Revival and Byzantine architecture with ornately fashioned natural materials and forms. The Week Staff, theweek, 8 Oct. 2024 One of the secrets of Putin’s longevity in the Byzantine world of Russian politics is his alliance with a handful of wealthy men known as oligarchs. Daniel Markind, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 On display in the new department will be nearly 20,000 objects of Byzantine art depicting religious and social themes. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Byzantine 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Byzantine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Byzantine was in 1651

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near Byzantine

Cite this Entry

“Byzantine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Byzantine. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Byzantine

1 of 2 noun
Byz·​an·​tine ˈbiz-ən-ˌtēn How to pronounce Byzantine (audio) bə-ˈzan- How to pronounce Byzantine (audio)
ˈbīz-ən-;
ˈbiz-ən-ˌtīn
: a person born or living in Byzantium or in the Byzantine Empire

Byzantine

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or typical of Byzantium or the Eastern Roman Empire
2
: of or relating to a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire especially in the 5th and 6th centuries characterized by a central dome over a square space and by much use of mosaics
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!