Ptolemaic
adjective
Ptol·e·ma·ic
ˌtä-lə-ˈmā-ik 
1
: of or relating to the second century geographer and astronomer Ptolemy of Alexandria and especially to his belief that the earth is at the center of the universe with the sun, moon, and planets revolving around it
the Ptolemaic system
2
: of or relating to the Greco-Egyptian Ptolemies ruling Egypt from 323 to 30 b.c.
Examples of Ptolemaic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The area is rich with sites from the New Kingdom, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods.
—
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Among them were amulets and a sculpture of a king from the Ptolemaic dynasty more than 2,000 years ago.
—James Barron, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Part of his stash included gold amulets from a funerary set, a relief with the cartouche of a Ptolemaic king that was originally part of a royal building or temple, and wooden tomb model figures with linen garments dating to approximately 1900 BCE, prosecutors said.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2025
The galleries are categorized according to three themes — religion, kingship, and society — and divided into historical eras: Predynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the Late Kingdom, Ptolemaic (Greek) Egypt, and the Roman period.
—Kate McMahon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025
Officials estimate that the artifacts date back to the Ptolemaic era, when Macedonian Greeks controlled Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
The Ptolemaic dynasty was a royal family of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's conquest of the territory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
The Ptolemaic dynasty was an ancient Macedonian Greek royal family that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's conquest of the territory.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
It was likely used around the second century B.C.E. during Egypt’s Ptolemaic era.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Nov. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Among them were amulets and a sculpture of a king from the Ptolemaic dynasty more than 2,000 years ago.
—James Barron, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Part of his stash included gold amulets from a funerary set, a relief with the cartouche of a Ptolemaic king that was originally part of a royal building or temple, and wooden tomb model figures with linen garments dating to approximately 1900 BCE, prosecutors said.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2025
The galleries are categorized according to three themes — religion, kingship, and society — and divided into historical eras: Predynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the Late Kingdom, Ptolemaic (Greek) Egypt, and the Roman period.
—Kate McMahon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025
Officials estimate that the artifacts date back to the Ptolemaic era, when Macedonian Greeks controlled Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
The Ptolemaic dynasty was a royal family of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's conquest of the territory.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
The Ptolemaic dynasty was an ancient Macedonian Greek royal family that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's conquest of the territory.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
It was likely used around the second century B.C.E. during Egypt’s Ptolemaic era.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ptolemaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ptolemaic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share