Minoan

1 of 2

adjective

Mi·​no·​an mə-ˈnō-ən How to pronounce Minoan (audio)
mī-
: of or relating to a Bronze Age culture of Crete that flourished about 3000 b.c.–1100 b.c.

Minoan

2 of 2

noun

: a native or inhabitant of ancient Crete

Examples of Minoan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With its central circular building surrounded by eight stone rings intersected by walls, the site resembled the style of tomb constructed by the Minoan civilization around 2000 to 1700 B.C.E. But to anyone familiar with Greek mythology, the spot evoked something else, too: the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024 Or, visit ancient Minoan ruins like the Palace of Knossos or walk through Chania’s Old Town to see Turkish and Venetian architecture. Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024 This included tablets from the Minoan city of Knossos on Crete, which showed soldiers wearing suits of armor. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 1 July 2024 Archaeologists dated the structure to between 2000 B.C. and 1700 B.C. and linked it to the Minoan civilization. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024 Note: the mysterious rock carvings at the end of the beach are a modern creation and definitely not ancient Minoan relics. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024 Get an even deeper education on the island's history with a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which houses the world's most comprehensive collection of artifacts from the Minoan civilization. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024 Crete Heraklion Archeological Museum Recently opened after an extensive renovation, this is the only museum in the world displaying Minoan art. Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 A number of luxurious items have been recovered from Minoan civilization, which lasted from about 3000 B.C.E. to 1100 B.C.E. The island had particularly adept artisans, making beautiful frescos and pottery. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin minous of Minos, from Greek minōios, from Minōs Minos

First Known Use

Adjective

1830, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Minoan was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near Minoan

Cite this Entry

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

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