Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

olympiad

noun

/ˌɒl.ɪmˈpiː.æd/

Definition

A period of four years associated with the Olympic Games, used in ancient Greece and now in modern times to denote the time frame and events of the Games.

Examples

The International Olympic Committee organizes the Olympiad every four years.
She trained for years in preparation for the next Olympiad.
The last Olympiad was held in Tokyo, Japan.

Meaning

The term ‘olympiad’ refers to both the four-year interval between the Olympic Games and the games themselves, which are held internationally to promote sportsmanship and competition.