Greek

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a native or inhabitant of ancient or modern Greece
b
: a person of Greek descent
2
a
: the language used by the Greeks from prehistoric times to the present constituting a branch of Indo-European see Indo-European Languages Table
b
: ancient Greek as used from the time of the earliest records to the end of the second century a.d. see Indo-European Languages Table
c
often not capitalized [translation of Latin Graecum (in the medieval phrase Graecum est; non potest legi It is Greek; it cannot be read)] : something unintelligible
it's Greek to me
3
: a member of a Greek-letter fraternity or sorority

Greek

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece, the Greeks, or Greek
Greek architecture
2
b
: of or relating to an Eastern church using the Byzantine rite in Greek
c
: of or relating to the established Orthodox church of Greece
3
: of or relating to fraternities or sororities
the Greek system

Examples of Greek in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Use a frosting bag kit to create the colorful rainbow design on top. 07 of 25 Mint Greek Frozen Yogurt View Recipe This healthy St. Patrick’s Day dessert will bring some chill to your holiday. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 It was created in partnership with Greek Professor Ioannis Michaloudis, who specializes in researching and creating items out of the silica aerogel, according to the American University of Cyprus. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-By-The-Sea. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024 On June 2, the group is set to take over the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with singer-songwriter Cody Jinks. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Itinerary: Dillon especially recommends the seven-night Greek Island Aglow itinerary for travelers seeking a high-energy, adults-only option. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Pippa Small’s high karat gold uncut aquamarine Greek Ring. Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Nick the Greek, Ward Parkway Center, 8807 State Line Road. Joyce Smith, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Florentine scholars learned Greek, and one, Marsilio Ficino, translated the entire corpus of Plato’s work into Latin, a language far more commonly read. Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Adjective
According to a 2019 study, around 70% of the world's population is lactase deficient, with the highest prevalence among people of East Asian, West African, Arab, Jewish, Greek, or Italian descent.10 However, not everyone deficient in lactase has lactose intolerance. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2024 The new Fortnite season is based on Greek mythology and the three main skins will be versions of Poseidon, Zeus, Hades and Athena. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Written for large orchestra and inspired by Madame Helena Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society, the symphonic tone poem is a fantastical transformation of the Greek myth of Prometheus, who steals fire from the gods. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Zelensky and members of the Greek delegation were not harmed, despite the missile landing some 500 feet away, Greek officials told the Protothema news outlet. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 The drink gets its green hue from fresh spinach and its creamy texture from Greek yogurt. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 However, Uranus is the only planet in the solar system named after the Greek god of the sky (the father of Saturn and the grandfather of Jupiter). Jamie Carter, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 But others, from locals to Greek revolutionaries and the Turkish Aga have designs on the statue. John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 Hailing from Miami, the 36-year-old son of a Spanish mother and Greek father wants to shock and entertain — but do both at a high level. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Greek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Greke, from Old English Grēca, from Latin Graecus, from Greek Graikos

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Greek was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Greek

Cite this Entry

“Greek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Greek. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Greek

noun
ˈgrēk
1
a
: a person born or living in Greece
b
: a person of Greek ancestry
2
: the Indo-European language of the Greeks
Greek adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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