What does "atlantean" mean?
An inhabitant of the mythical island of Atlantis.
Atlantean
/ətˈlænti.ən/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An inhabitant of the mythical island of Atlantis.
- Grammar: atlantean is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abysmal, astronomic, astronomical, colossal.
- Usage evidence: 1847, M. Bodichon, Études sur l'Algérie, translated in Nott & Gliddon, 1854, Types of mankind, The Atlanteans, among the ancients, passed for the favorite children of Neptune; they made known the worship of this god to other nations
How to use "atlantean"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "atlantean" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "atlantean" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "atlantean" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "atlantean" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abysmal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An inhabitant of the mythical island of Atlantis.
"1847, M. Bodichon, Études sur l'Algérie, translated in Nott & Gliddon, 1854, Types of mankind, The Atlanteans, among the ancients, passed for the favorite children of Neptune; they made known the worship of this god to other nations"
- 2 A pillar or statue in the form of an architectural atlas.
"This pyramid has been restored and the tall statues, called Atlanteans (Los Atlantes), have been erected on its summit."
Adjective
- 1 Of or like the Greek titan Atlas, who carries the heavens on his shoulders, as in Atlantean strength not-comparable
"With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear / The weight of mightiest Monarchies."
- 2 Of the celestial spheres carried by Atlas figuratively, not-comparable
"1940, WHD Rouse, trans. of Nonnus, Dionysiaca I [Elektra] shall pass from the earth to the stars’ Atlantean vault, and dwell in heaven"
- 3 Of an architectural atlas or atlantid, or reminiscent of such: atlantean figures not-comparable
"Arms outstretched, an Atlantean statue of Jesus welcomes a diver in the mysterious depths off Ambergris Caye"
- 4 Of the mythical island of Atlantis, its people, or its civilization. not-comparable
"2002, Vadim Joseph Rossman, Vidal Sassoon, International Center for the Study of Antisemitism (Universiṭah ha-ʻIvrit bi-Yerushalayim), Russian Intellectual Antisemitism in the Post-Communist Era, Barkashov saw a critical difference between Atlantis and Hyperborea in the organization of labor. The Atlantean economy, he claims, was based on the use of the mass slave labor in agriculture and crafts, while the Aryan civilization did not employ slaves nor tolerate slavery."
- 5 flooded or submerged, especially in case of a natural disaster, reminiscent of the way Atlantis sank into the ocean figuratively, not-comparable
"So [after the tsunami], once again Hideaki navigated his way through the Atlantean city, picking his way through crumbling wreckage, splintered wood, and shredded metal to find his elderly mother."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 of Saturn's moon Atlas not-comparable
Proper Noun
- 1 The language supposedly spoken by the inhabitants of Atlantis.
"How Atlantean sounded or how the various alphabets worked is anyone's guess, of course, but since there is a certain logic to how language is constructed, we might allow that theirs may not have been so different from our own."
- 2 A constructed language invented for the 2001 animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
"Indeed, Okrand's goal in inventing Atlantean was to recreate Indo-European, and it thus borrows from several languages yet contains no recognizable words from these linguistic systems."
Example
"1847, M. Bodichon, Études sur l'Algérie, translated in Nott & Gliddon, 1854, Types of mankind, The Atlanteans, among the ancients, passed for the favorite children of Neptune; they made known the worship of this god to other nations"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "atlantean"?
Common synonyms include: abysmal, astronomic, astronomical, colossal, cyclopean, elephantine.
How do you use "atlantean" in a sentence?
1847, M. Bodichon, Études sur l'Algérie, translated in Nott & Gliddon, 1854, Types of mankind, The Atlanteans, among the ancients, passed for the favorite children of Neptune; they made known the worship of this god to other nations
How do you pronounce "atlantean"?
Pronounced /ətˈlænti.ən/.
Etymology
From Atlas + -ean and Atlantis + -ean.