Ptolemaic

adjective

Ptol·​e·​ma·​ic ˌtä-lə-ˈmā-ik 

1

: of or relating to the second century geographer and astronomer Ptolemy of Alexandria and especially to his belief that the earth is at the center of the universe with the sun, moon, and planets revolving around it

the Ptolemaic system

2

: of or relating to the Greco-Egyptian Ptolemies ruling Egypt from 323 to 30 b.c.

Examples of Ptolemaic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The earliest objects, from the Ptolemaic period (305-30 BCE), include the circular public bath, called a tholi, and intricate mosaic flooring belong to an adjacent Roman residential villa. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026

The Egyptians under the Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 bce) appear to have associated this belief with ritual practice. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026

The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle. — Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026

The series has since spawned over a dozen mainline sequels and a number of spinoffs, bringing the action to various historical eras including the Italian Renaissance, the American Revolution, and Ptolemaic Egypt. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025

Through private letters and catalogues, the directors were able to trace its ownership to the early 20th century, and its origins in the Ptolemaic period. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025

The temple, built in the Ptolemaic era, was dedicated to Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025

The Ptolemaic era lasted for nearly 300 years and was followed by Roman rule, which lasted for around 600 years. — Roisín Savage, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek Ptolemaikos, from Ptolemaios Ptolemy

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Ptolemaic

• altaic
• archaic
• deltaic
• hebraic
• mosaic
• oleic
• prosaic
• trochaic
• voltaic
• algebraic
• aramaic
• formulaic