Greek

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrēk 

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

Greek

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece, the Greeks, or Greek

Greek architecture

2

a

: eastern orthodox

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

Noun

The film was supported by the Greek Film Center, the NFF+HBF co-production scheme, CNC’s Aide au Cinéma du Monde, ZDF/Arte, ZDF/DKF and the Doha Film Institute. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

Salads include options for antipasto, caprese, Greek, Caesar or the cheekily named Ty Cobb. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2024

Perlin traces this through Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and other ancient civilizations, and up through more modern sea powers, such as the Venice, Portugal, Spain, Holland, and the British Empire. —Eugene Linden, TIME, 21 Apr. 2024

In Greek Mythology, Cassandra is the goddess granted the power of prophecy by the god Apollo. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

Other upcoming Greek Theatre shows include Sarah McLachlan (May 30), Tedeschi Trucks Band (May 31-June 1) and Bill Burr (June 8). —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

For years, getting travelers to see Athens as more than a transient city would take some convincing; the extent of their stay at the best hotels in Athens would merely include a brief bucket-list visit to the Acropolis before scurrying off to the Greek islands. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024

On April 12th, the George Polk Awards, which honor a CBS journalist who was murdered during the Greek Civil War, named Rideau one of its career laureates. —John J. Lennon, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024

The attacker followed the unsuspecting victim up the steps of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York, and then jumped in front of her and knocked her down. —Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 9 Apr. 2024

Adjective

If the texture or flavor isn't your favorite, plain Greek yogurt should have similar metabolism-stoking results. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2024

There’s Greek mathematicians, like one famous algorithm is the Euclidean algorithm. —Quartz Staff, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

Travelers can walk past homes and buildings showcasing Crete's unique melding of history, including all its Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek influences. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024

And for dessert, look for the how-tos for Greek coffee-walnut layer cake, a golden filo custard pie and baklava buns. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

That March 6 blast came within a few hundred yards of a convoy carrying Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who was touring the country’s principal shipyard with the visiting Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotaki. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

As an only child to a family of Greek immigrants in Ventura, Christie grew up fascinated with motorcycles. —Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 21 Apr. 2024

The frescoes show, for example, Helen of Troy and Paris, who’s identifiable thanks to an inscription of his Greek name, Alexandros. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

In 1992, in a Greek restaurant in Berlin, agents of the Islamic Republic killed Sadegh Sharafkandi, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran alongside three of his associates. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Greke, from Old English Grēca, from Latin Graecus, from Greek Graikos

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Greek

• Greek Catholic
• Greek cross
• Greek fire
• Greek Orthodox
• Greek Revival
• Greek salad
• Late Greek
• Middle Greek
• Modern Greek

Kids Definition

Greek

noun

ˈgrēk

1

a

: a person born or living in Greece

b

: a person of Greek ancestry

2

: the Indo-European language of the Greeks

Greek adjective