Doric

1 of 2

adjective

Dor·​ic ˈdȯr-ik How to pronounce Doric (audio)
ˈdär-
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Dorians
2
: belonging to the oldest and simplest Greek architectural order see order illustration
3
: of, relating to, or constituting Doric

Doric

2 of 2

noun

: a dialect of ancient Greek spoken especially in the Peloponnisos, Crete, Sicily, and southern Italy

Examples of Doric in a Sentence

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Adjective
Doric columns and a wide front porch bring curb appeal to new heights. — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026 Coles still has a neck like a Doric column and the forearms of someone who swings a sledgehammer 40 hours a week. — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
The building also features Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns both inside and out. — Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 18 Mar. 2026 When is a column’s capital Doric, Ionic or Corinthian enough to be considered classical? — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Doric

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Doric was in 1569

Rhymes for Doric

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Browse Nearby Words

Dorian tetrachord
Doric
Doricism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Doric. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Doric

adjective
Dor·​ic
ˈdȯr-ik, 
ˈdär-
: belonging to the simplest Greek architectural order
Etymology

Adjective

derived from Greek Dōris, name of a kingdom in ancient Greece

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