thucydides: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “thucydides” mean?
An ancient Greek historian, author of the History of the Peloponnesian War.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient Greek historian, author of the History of the Peloponnesian War.
Often used metonymically to refer to the writings of Thucydides, especially his famous work on the Peloponnesian War; also used to denote a particular style of rigorous, analytical historiography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical academic and historical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in academic, historical, or political science contexts with equal frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “thucydides” in a Sentence
Thucydides + verb of reporting (writes, states, observes)Thucydides' + noun (account, analysis, insight)by ThucydidesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thucydides” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Thucydidean rigour is essential for sound historical analysis.
- The scholar adopted a Thucydidean approach to the conflict.
American English
- Thucydidean clarity marks his account of the plague.
- The seminar focused on Thucydidean methodology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear metaphorically in strategic analysis ('a Thucydidean dynamic').
Academic
Core term in Classics, Ancient History, Political Science, and International Relations.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the author and his specific methodological contributions to historiography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thucydides”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thucydides”
- Misspelling (e.g., 'Thucidides', 'Thucydidis').
- Mispronouncing the initial 'Thu-' as /ðuː/ or /tuː/.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a thucydides').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
He wrote 'The History of the Peloponnesian War', an account of the 5th-century BC war between Athens and Sparta.
He is considered a founding father of scientific history, emphasizing evidence-based analysis, political realism, and human nature as drivers of events.
A term coined by political scientist Graham Allison, describing the apparent tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great power, akin to the dynamic Thucydides identified between Athens and Sparta.
In British English: /θjuːˈsɪdɪdiːz/ (thew-SID-i-deez). In American English: /θuːˈsɪdədiːz/ (thoo-SID-uh-deez). The first syllable sounds like 'thew' or 'thoo', not 'thu' as in 'thumb'.
An ancient Greek historian, author of the History of the Peloponnesian War.
Thucydides is usually formal, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Thucydides Trap (political science term describing the risk of war when a rising power rivals an established one).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The US IDs' the causes of war – but it's THUCYDIDES who really did.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOURCE OF ANCIENT WISDOM; A FOUNDATION STONE (of historical/political thought).
Practice
Quiz
Thucydides is best known for his work on which conflict?