Pyrrhic

UK: 'pyrrhic', 'Pyrrhic': /ˈpɪrɪk/ US: (pir′ik)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pyr•rhic¹  (pir′ik), [Pros.]
adj. 

1. Poetry consisting of two short or unaccented syllables.
2. Poetry composed of or pertaining to pyrrhics.

n. 

3. Poetry Also called dibrach. a pyrrhic foot.

• Greek pyrrhíchios pertaining to the pyrrhíchē pyrrhic²
• Latin pyrrhichius
• 1620–30

pyr•rhic²  (pir′ik), n. 

1. Antiquity, Music and Dance an ancient Greek warlike dance in which the motions of actual warfare were imitated.

adj. 

2. Antiquity, Music and Dance of, pertaining to, or denoting this dance.

• Greek pyrrhíchē a dance; said to be named after Pyrrhichus, the inventor
• Latin pyrrhicha
• 1590–1600

Pyr•rhic  (pir′ik), adj. 

1. Ancient History of, pertaining to, or resembling Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, or his costly victory.

• Pyrrh(us) + -ic 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pyrrhic / ˈpɪrɪk/ noun

1. a metrical foot of two short or unstressed syllables

adjective

1. (of poetry) composed in pyrrhics

Etymology: 16th Century: via Latin, from Greek purrhikhē, traditionally said to be named after its inventor Purrhikhos