Iliad

American  

[il-ee-uhd] / ˈɪl i əd /

noun

1. (italics) a Greek epic poem describing the siege of Troy, ascribed to Homer.

2. (sometimes lowercase) any similar poem; a long narrative.

3. (often lowercase) a long series of woes, trials, etc.

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Iliad British  

/ ˈɪlɪəd, ˌɪlɪˈædɪk /

noun

1. a Greek epic poem describing the siege of Troy, attributed to Homer and probably composed before 700 _bc

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Other Word Forms

• Iliadic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Iliad

< Latin Iliad- (stem of Ilias ) < Greek, equivalent to Ili ( on ) Troy + -ad- -ad ¹

Compare meaning

How does iliad compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Iliad vs. Odyssey

Example Sentences

The Trojan War, most famously described in Homer's epic poem the Iliad, tells of a legendary ten year conflict between Greek forces and the city of Troy, ruled by King Priam.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

The instant she finished a novel, she would extol its virtues and demand we go to the Iliad or the Last Bookstore to get the author’s next offering.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

“We still think that this offer has some potential and it was well-suited to the current circumstances of the market,” Aude Durand, Iliad Group’s deputy chief executive, said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

If the takeover bid is successful, Bouygues would acquire 43 percent of SFR's operations, Iliad 30 percent and Orange 27 percent.

From Barron's • Oct. 14, 2025

This passage in the Iliad is the first mention of the House of Atreus.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton