pyrrhic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, literary, academic (especially history, politics, strategic studies).
Quick answer
What does “pyrrhic” mean?
A victory or success achieved at such a great cost that it is equivalent to a defeat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A victory or success achieved at such a great cost that it is equivalent to a defeat.
Used more broadly to describe any endeavour, process, or achievement where the cost or damage outweighs the benefit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. British texts may show a slight preference for classical allusions, but the term is equally known in educated registers in both dialects.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects. Connotes short-sightedness, strategic failure, and hollow triumph.
Frequency
Very low-frequency in casual speech. Found in comparable contexts in both UK and US media, particularly political commentary, history, and business analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “pyrrhic” in a Sentence
ADJ + N (victory, success)V + ADJ (prove, be, become)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pyrrhic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The general's late breakthrough proved a pyrrhic triumph, leaving his army incapable of further action.
American English
- The court ruling was a pyrrhic victory for the plaintiffs, as the awarded damages didn't cover their legal fees.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The hostile takeover was a pyrrhic victory; the legal fees and lost contracts bankrupted the acquiring firm.
Academic
The historian argued that the emperor's territorial gains were pyrrhic, fatally overextending the empire's resources.
Everyday
He won the argument but lost his friend—it felt like a bit of a pyrrhic victory.
Technical
In military science, a pyrrhic victory is a tactical success that leads to strategic failure.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pyrrhic”
- Using it to mean a 'narrow' or 'hard-fought' victory without the crucial element of catastrophic cost. Misspelling as 'pyhrric' or 'pyrric'. Using it as a standalone noun without 'victory' in general contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though 'pyrrhic victory' is the fixed collocation. The adjective can extend to 'pyrrhic success', 'pyrrhic achievement', or even describe processes ('a pyrrhic campaign'). The core idea of ruinous cost remains.
It's pronounced 'PIH-rick' (/ˈpɪr.ɪk/), with a short 'i' like in 'mirror', not like 'pie'.
A 'hollow victory' emphasises the lack of real value or satisfaction. A 'pyrrhic victory' is stronger, specifically implying that the costs incurred in winning are so high they negate or outweigh the benefit, often leading to longer-term defeat.
Yes, though less common. 'A pyrrhic' can be used as a standalone noun, especially in literary or historical writing (e.g., 'He had achieved only a pyrrhic'). In most modern contexts, the full phrase 'pyrrhic victory' is preferred.
A victory or success achieved at such a great cost that it is equivalent to a defeat.
Pyrrhic is usually formal, literary, academic (especially history, politics, strategic studies). in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A pyrrhic victory”
- “Win the battle but lose the war (conceptual synonym)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'peer' + 'rick' (as in 'rickety'). Imagine a king ('peer') winning a trophy so fragile ('rickety') it immediately breaks—a costly, worthless win.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINNING IS LOSING / A VICTORY IS A POISONED CHALICE.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario would the term 'pyrrhic' be MOST appropriately used?