spartan
SPAH-tuhn
Spartan (adjective) means Extremely plain, strict, or self-disciplined, with no luxury or comfort. Example: “The monks lived in spartan conditions with just a bed and a desk.”
adjective
1
Extremely plain, strict, or self-disciplined, with no luxury or comfort.
"The monks lived in spartan conditions with just a bed and a desk."
noun
1
A native or citizen of the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.
"The Spartans were famed throughout Greece for their military discipline."
How to use spartan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely plain and disciplined, with no comforts — named after the tough, no-frills ancient Spartans.
Common pairings
spartan conditions
spartan lifestyle
spartan discipline
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more spartan
- Superlative
- most spartan
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The monks lived in _____ conditions with just a bed and a desk.
Etymology
From the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, whose citizens were famous for austere living and rigorous military discipline.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for spartan
See all rhymes for spartan →Frequently asked questions
What does “spartan” mean?
The word “spartan” means extremely plain, strict, or self-disciplined, with no luxury or comfort. In plain terms, extremely plain and disciplined, with no comforts — named after the tough, no-frills ancient Spartans.
How do you pronounce “spartan”?
“Spartan” is pronounced SPAH-tuhn (/ˈspɑː(ɹ)tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “spartan” in a sentence?
Here is “spartan” used in a sentence: “The monks lived in spartan conditions with just a bed and a desk.”
What part of speech is “spartan”?
Depending on how it is used, “spartan” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “spartan” come from?
The word “spartan” comes from Ancient Greek. From the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, whose citizens were famous for austere living and rigorous military discipline.
Is “spartan” a common word?
“Spartan” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “spartan” have?
“Spartan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely plain, strict, or self-disciplined, with no luxury or comfort.
