Alexandrian

American  

[al-ig-zan-dree-uhn, -zahn-] / ˌæl ɪgˈzæn dri ən, -ˈzɑn- /

adjective

1. of Alexandria, especially Alexandria, Egypt.

2. of or relating to the schools of philosophy, literature, and science in ancient Alexandria.

3. Alexandrine.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Alexandria, especially Alexandria, Egypt.

Alexandrian British  

/ -ˈzɑːn-, ˌælɪɡˈzændrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Alexander the Great

2. of or relating to Alexandria in Egypt

3. relating to the Hellenistic philosophical, literary, and scientific ideas that flourished in Alexandria in the last three centuries _bc

4. (of writers, literary works, etc) erudite and imitative rather than original or creative

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Alexandria

Other Word Forms

• non-Alexandrian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Alexandrian

First recorded in 1575–85; Alexandri(a) + -an

Example Sentences

Tangentially concerned with time, memory and preservation, “Cleopatra’s Last Temple” isn’t exactly breaking news—the exploration of the Alexandrian harbor and the ruins preserved in its waters has been under way since 1992.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

These same kings also patronized the Alexandrian Library, where they assembled the largest collection of books in the ancient world.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

As in the earlier seizures, the unnamed Alexandrian had his firearm confiscated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, and was written up for the violation.

From Washington Times • Jan. 26, 2023

The two writers, both born in the ancient port city, form an unofficial Alexandrian compendium.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2022

This was the Aristotelian system, which was later refined by the Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife