adj
Olympian
uh-LIHM-pih-uhn
adj
1
Godlike, majestic, or far above ordinary human concerns — originally describing the gods said to live on Mount Olympus.
"He addressed the crowd with an almost olympian calm."
"Her olympian indifference to criticism unsettled her rivals."
noun
1
An athlete who has competed in the Olympic Games.
"Three olympians from the swim team visited the school."
"She trained for a decade before becoming an olympian."
2
One of the twelve principal gods of Greek mythology, or (capitalized, with "the") Zeus specifically.
"Zeus ruled as the greatest of the Olympians."
How to Use Olympian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who competed in the Olympics, or (as an adjective) something god-like and above ordinary concerns.
Common pairings
a former olympian
olympian calm
olympian heights
Word Forms
more Olympian comparative, Olympians plural, Olympians plural, most Olympian superlative
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Etymology
From Latin Olympius, ultimately from Greek Olympos, "Mount Olympus."