Spartan
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to Sparta or its citizens
-
(sometimes not capital) very strict or austere
a Spartan upbringing
-
(sometimes not capital) possessing courage and resolve
noun
-
a citizen of Sparta
-
(sometimes not capital) a disciplined or brave person
-
a Canadian variety of eating apple
Related Words
See austere.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Spartan
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin Spartānus, equivalent to Spart ( a ) Sparta (< Doric Greek Spártā ) + -ānus -an
Explanation
A spartan existence is kind of like being a monk. Your room is bareyou live simply and eat sparinglyand your sheets are probably scratchy. In ancient Greecethere were two great city states: Athens and Sparta. Athens had the artiststhe good foodthe great parties. Sparta had the warriors — the guys who went to bed early and drilled all day. They lived in bare rooms and didn’t get sick days or time off. A spartan life is a life of discipline and self-denial. Some people like it like that. Go figure.
Vocabulary lists containing spartan
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactivecurated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcardsquiz yourselfpractice spellingand more – and it's all completely free to use!
Prisoner B-3087
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side have played more than 60 games across all competitionswith 11 of those coming between 4 April and 4 May.
From BBC • May 162026
Precious metal futures finished lowerbut they may not have much further to fall until finding a bottomsaid Spartan Capital Securities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22026
“That’s relieving to the market,” said Peter Cardillochief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 212026
Imperial overreach comes home: financial crisisa Spartan fleet off the coast of Attica and an oligarchic coup in Athens.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 212025
The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the oceanfight a batdethen explode into a million colors.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridgedbased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary© Random HouseInc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 200220011995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
