What does "solidus" mean?
Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; A Roman ~23k gold coin introduced by Diocletian in AD 301 and called by that name, but reissued at a slightly lower weight by Constantine I.
Solidus
/ˈsɑlɪdəs/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; A Roman ~23k gold coin introduced by Diocletian in AD 301 and called by that name, but reissued at a slightly lower weight by Constantine I.
- Grammar: solidus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bezant, bend, bezzant, bias.
How to use "solidus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "solidus" 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 "solidus" 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 "solidus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "solidus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "solidus" is acting as 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 "bezant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use surrounding context as the evidence check, then read your sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "solidus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; A Roman ~23k gold coin introduced by Diocletian in AD 301 and called by that name, but reissued at a slightly lower weight by Constantine I. historical
- 2 a punctuation mark (‘/’) used to separate related items of information wordnet
- 3 Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; Its successor Byzantine coins, from the eleventh century onward of progressively debased weight and purity. historical
- 4 a gold coin of the Byzantine Empire; widely circulated in Europe in the Middle Ages wordnet
- 5 Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; Synonym of sol or sou: a Carolingian unit of account equivalent to a solidus of silver. historical, obsolete
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; Synonym of soldo: the silver coins of various Italian states. historical, obsolete
- 7 Various medieval and early modern coins or units of account; Synonym of shilling: an English unit of account and, following the Tudor dynasty, silver coin. historical, obsolete
- 8 The weight of the Roman gold coin, 1/60 of a Roman pound under Diocletian or 1/72 lb. (about 4.5 grams) after Constantine. historical
- 9 A medieval French weight, 1/20 of the Carolingian pound. historical
- 10 Synonym of slash ⟨/⟩, originally (UK) in its use as the shilling mark and now its formal designation by the ISO and Unicode.
- 11 The formal name of the oblique strikethrough overlay (as in A̷ and B̸) in Unicode.
- 12 The division line between the numerator and the denominator of a fraction, whether horizontal or oblique.
- 13 The line in a phase diagram marking the temperatures and pressures below which a given substance is a stable solid.
Common questions
What is a synonym for "solidus"?
Common synonyms include: bezant, bend, bezzant, bias, byzant, comma.
How do you pronounce "solidus"?
Pronounced /ˈsɑlɪdəs/.
Etymology
From Middle English solidus, from classical Latin solidus (“solid”), see below. Doublet of sol, sold, soldo, solid, sou, and xu. In numismatic and weight senses, via medieval Latin solidus (“various coins”), from Late Latin solidus (“a gold coin of the Roman Empire”). In chemical sense, via German Solidus, coined by H.W.B. Roozeboom in his 1899 Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Stöchiometrie, und Verwandtschaftslehre (XXX, page 387). In typography, from the shilling mark originally being an abbreviation (a long s ⟨ſ⟩), of Medieval Latin solidus meaning shilling.