C1 adjective Formel

byzantine

/bɪˈzæntaɪn/

Describing a system, process, or set of rules that is excessively complicated, intricate, and often characterized by deviousness or underhandedness. It typically refers to bureaucratic or administrative structures that are difficult to navigate or understand.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

The instructions for setting up this smart home system are unexpectedly byzantine.

The instructions for setting up this smart home system are unexpectedly byzantine.

2

The committee struggled to navigate the byzantine protocols of the international treaty.

The committee struggled to navigate the byzantine protocols of the international treaty.

3

Fixing my broken phone turned into a byzantine process that took all day.

Fixing my broken phone turned into a byzantine process that took all day.

Famille de mots

Nom
byzantinism
Adverbe
byzantinely
Adjectif
byzantine
Apparenté
Byzantium
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the ancient Byzantine Empire—it was famous for having so many secret plots, layers of government, and confusing laws that it became a human maze.

Quiz rapide

The merger was delayed for months by a _____ web of legal requirements and paperwork.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : byzantine

Exemples

1

The instructions for setting up this smart home system are unexpectedly byzantine.

everyday

The instructions for setting up this smart home system are unexpectedly byzantine.

2

The committee struggled to navigate the byzantine protocols of the international treaty.

formal

The committee struggled to navigate the byzantine protocols of the international treaty.

3

Fixing my broken phone turned into a byzantine process that took all day.

informal

Fixing my broken phone turned into a byzantine process that took all day.

4

Scholars often critique the byzantine structure of the medieval tax system in their research.

academic

Scholars often critique the byzantine structure of the medieval tax system in their research.

5

The company's byzantine hierarchy makes it impossible to get a quick decision from management.

business

The company's byzantine hierarchy makes it impossible to get a quick decision from management.

Famille de mots

Nom
byzantinism
Adverbe
byzantinely
Adjectif
byzantine
Apparenté
Byzantium

Collocations courantes

byzantine bureaucracy byzantine bureaucracy
byzantine system byzantine system
byzantine plot byzantine plot
byzantine rules byzantine rules
byzantine complexity byzantine complexity

Phrases Courantes

byzantine politics

byzantine politics

byzantine regulations

byzantine regulations

byzantine maze

byzantine maze

Souvent confondu avec

byzantine vs convoluted

Convoluted refers to anything twisted or complex, while byzantine specifically implies a complex system or administrative structure.

byzantine vs complex

Complex is a neutral term for something with many parts; byzantine is usually pejorative, suggesting unnecessary difficulty.

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Notes d'usage

The word is almost always used in a negative sense to criticize a system that is harder to understand than it needs to be. It is common in political and academic writing.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often forget that when referring to the historical Empire, it must be capitalized (Byzantine), but when used as a general adjective for complexity, it is often lowercase.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the ancient Byzantine Empire—it was famous for having so many secret plots, layers of government, and confusing laws that it became a human maze.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from Byzantium, the ancient Greek city (later Constantinople), known for its highly complex and devious political life.

Modèles grammaticaux

Used as an attributive adjective before a noun. No comparative form (more byzantine is rare; usually 'highly byzantine').
🌍

Contexte culturel

The term reflects a Western historical stereotype of the Eastern Roman Empire as being excessively focused on complex ritual and political intrigue.

Quiz rapide

The merger was delayed for months by a _____ web of legal requirements and paperwork.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : byzantine

Mots lis

sit

A1

To rest your body on your bottom with your back upright, typically on a chair or the floor. It describes both the action of moving into this position and the state of being in it.

stand

A1

To be in an upright position supported by one's feet rather than sitting or lying down. It also refers to the physical location of an object or a person's particular opinion on a subject.

pay

A1

To give money to someone in exchange for goods, services, or to settle a debt. It can also mean to give something non-monetary, such as attention or a compliment.

meet

A1

To come together with someone at a specific place and time, or to be introduced to someone for the first time. It can also mean to satisfy a requirement, standard, or need.

continue

A1

To keep doing something or to stay in the same state without stopping. It can also mean to start an activity again after a short break.

set

A1

To put or place something in a specific position or location. It also means to adjust or prepare something so that it is ready for use, such as a clock or a table.

learn

A1

To gain knowledge, understanding, or a skill by studying, practicing, or being taught. It refers to the process of acquiring information through experience or education.

lead

A1

To go in front of a group of people to show them the way to a place. It also means to be in control of a group, a team, or an activity.

understand

A1

To know the meaning of what someone is saying or how something works. It involves grasping an idea, a language, or a situation clearly in your mind.

follow

A1

To move behind someone or something in the same direction. It also means to obey rules, instructions, or to understand the logic of an argument or story.

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