Byzantine

1 of 2

adjective

Byz·​an·​tine ˈbi-zᵊn-ˌtēn 

ˈbī-,

-ˌtīn;

bə-ˈzan-ˌtēn,

bī-ˈzan- 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient city of Byzantium

Byzantine art

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

3

Christianity : of or relating to the churches using a traditional Greek rite and subject to Eastern (see eastern sense 2) canon law

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

Byzantine

2 of 2

noun

: a native or inhabitant of Byzantium

Did you know?

Byzantine, a Word for History Buffs

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

Adjective

• baroque
• complex
• complicate
• complicated
• convoluted
• daedal
• elaborate
• intricate
• involute
• involved
• knotty
• labyrinthian
• labyrinthine
• sophisticated
• tangled

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

Adjective

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

Byzantine

1 of 2 noun

Byz·​an·​tine ˈbiz-ən-ˌtēn  bə-ˈzan- 

ˈbīz-ən-;

ˈbiz-ən-ˌtīn

: a person born or living in Byzantium or in the Byzantine Empire

Byzantine

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or typical of Byzantium or the Eastern Roman Empire

2

: of or relating to a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire especially in the 5th and 6th centuries characterized by a central dome over a square space and by much use of mosaics