Definition of BYZANTINE (original) (raw)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient city of Byzantium
2
architecture : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire especially in the fifth and sixth centuries featuring the dome carried on pendentives over a square and incrustation with marble veneering and with colored mosaics on grounds of gold
4
often not capitalized
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation
a Byzantine power struggle
b
: intricately involved : labyrinthine
rules of Byzantine complexity
Did you know?
Today, the city that lies on the Bosporus Strait in Turkey is named Istanbul, but it was once known as Constantinople (a name given to it when it became the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire), and in ancient times, it was called Byzantium. Its history is exotic—filled with mystics, wars, and political infighting—and over time the word Byzantine (from Late Latin Byzantinus, the name for a native of Byzantium) became synonymous with anything characteristic of the city or empire, from architecture to intrigue. The figurative sense referring to a devious manner of operation first appeared in the late 1930s. It was popularized by frequent use in reference to the Soviet Union, whose secrecy and despotism were equated by Westerners with what went on in the old Byzantine Empire.
Synonyms
Examples of Byzantine in a Sentence
Adjective
spent his first year at the Pentagon just trying to fathom its byzantine workings
Recent Examples on the Web
Skilled goldsmith work can also be seen on several Byzantine rings in the collection. —
Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024 Think of us as your bizarro-world Woodward and Bernstein of L.A. culture — meeting not-so-secret sources in galleries, museums, theaters and music halls for news of joy and positivity about the creative classes working and living in this Byzantine metropolis. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2024 The next invaders to occupy Athens were the Romans, who successfully besieged the city in 86 B.C.E. As the Roman Empire declined and the Byzantine Empire rose in the fourth century C.E., Athens lost importance, becoming a small village at the edge of Byzantine territory. —Demetrios Ioannou, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Aug. 2024 The sixth century Byzantine bucket, likely made in Turkey, depicts a North African hunting scene featuring warriors, lions and a hunting dog. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Byzantine 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Byzantine.' 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
Adjective
1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1651, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of Byzantine was in 1651
Dictionary Entries Near Byzantine
Cite this Entry
“Byzantine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Byzantine. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 15 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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