# athenians

/əˈθiniənz/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/athenians
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

the people who lived in the ancient city of Athens in Greece. They are famous for starting democracy and for their contributions to art and philosophy.

For teachers: the inhabitants of the ancient city-state of Athens. Often used in historical or literary contexts to refer to the citizens of the classical period.

## Examples

- The Athenians were known for their love of philosophy.
- Historians study how the Athenians managed to build the Parthenon during a time of great political change.
- The democratic reforms introduced by the Athenians in the fifth century BCE served as a foundational model for modern representative governments, though their system excluded women and slaves from the voting process.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.