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Definition of byzantium

byzantium

/bɪˈzæn.ti.əm/
By · zan · ti · um
Adjective:Byzantine
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byzantium Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An ancient Greek city situated on the European side of the Bosporus strait in modern-day northwestern Turkey, later refounded as Constantinople in 330 AD and now known as Istanbul.

2

The Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Roman Empire centered at Constantinople during the Middle Ages.

Example

"Historians continue to study the rich religious art and complex administrative systems of Byzantium."

3

A dark, rich shade of purple or reddish-purple associated with imperial robes.

Example

"The interior designer chose velvet drapes in a deep shade of byzantium to give the study a regal atmosphere."

• Nearby Words

byway
byword
byzantine
byzantium
ca river
cab
cabana

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Byzantium. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/byzantium
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