Hellenistic
adjective
Hel·le·nis·tic
ˌhe-lə-ˈni-stik 
1
: of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great
2
: of or relating to the Hellenists
Examples of Hellenistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The remains of its Hellenistic and Roman buildings lay amid rivulets and lush vegetation.
—
Charlotte Higgins, Travel + Leisure, 9 Oct. 2023
In Cleopatra’s time, Alexandria, the capital of her kingdom, was a cosmopolitan port city bustling with Greeks, Jews, ethnic Egyptians and people from all over who, the Cambridge University historian David Abulafia said, largely saw themselves as part of the Hellenistic world.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 10 May 2023
The settlement began to take shape as a more modern city during the Hellenistic period, circa 330 B.C. Jerash's heyday arguably began in the first several centuries under the Roman Empire, back when the city's most prominent architectural structures were built under Emperor Hadrian.
—Jess McHugh, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2023
The exhibition also includes archaic and classical Greek statues, Hellenistic figures, and Roman portraits and bronzes.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022
Before the discovery of this ancient Greek shipwreck, Hellenistic ships of this type and design were completely unknown to archaeologists.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 20 July 2022
Charlotte Higgins, Travel + Leisure, 9 Oct. 2023
In Cleopatra’s time, Alexandria, the capital of her kingdom, was a cosmopolitan port city bustling with Greeks, Jews, ethnic Egyptians and people from all over who, the Cambridge University historian David Abulafia said, largely saw themselves as part of the Hellenistic world.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 10 May 2023
The settlement began to take shape as a more modern city during the Hellenistic period, circa 330 B.C. Jerash's heyday arguably began in the first several centuries under the Roman Empire, back when the city's most prominent architectural structures were built under Emperor Hadrian.
—Jess McHugh, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2023
The exhibition also includes archaic and classical Greek statues, Hellenistic figures, and Roman portraits and bronzes.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022
Before the discovery of this ancient Greek shipwreck, Hellenistic ships of this type and design were completely unknown to archaeologists.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 20 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Hellenistic.' 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
1678, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near Hellenistic
Cite this Entry
“Hellenistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hellenistic. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
Hellenistic
adjective
Hel·le·nis·tic
ˌhel-ə-ˈnis-tik
: of or relating to the widespread Greek-based culture that developed after the conquests of Alexander the Great
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