Pyrrhic definition

pĭrĭk

Achieved at excessive cost.

adjective

A metrical foot having two short or unaccented syllables.

noun

(prosody) Of or characterized by pyrrhics.

adjective

Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.

adjective

An Ancient Greek war dance.

noun

(prosody) A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.

noun

(not comparable) Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318-272 BC), Greek general and statesman.

The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war.

adjective

A war dance of the ancient Greeks.

noun

Of or made up of pyrrhics.

adjective

A metrical foot of two short or unaccented syllables.

noun

Of or characterized by pyrrhics.

adjective

Other Word Forms

Singular:

pyrrhic

Plural:

pyrrhics

Latin pyrrhicius from Greek purrikhios from purrikhē a war dance perhaps from Purrikhos , supposed inventor of the dance

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin pyrrhichius, from Ancient Greek πυρρίχιος (pyrrichos), from πυρρίχη (pyrriche, “war dance")

From Wiktionary
From Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), a king of Epirus whose forces sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans

From Wiktionary