pantheon
noun
John Gray Don Lattin Note: Generic use of this sense is rare. The capitalized form Pantheon is the common name of a domed temple in Rome that was begun in 27 b.c. by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and completely rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian circa 118-128 a.d. It was dedicated in 609 a.d. as the Church of Santa Maria Rotonda, or Santa Maria ad Martyres.
Stephanie GreenElizabeth DrewAlan ShipnuckMitch FrankNote: Generic use of this sense is rare. The capitalized form Pantheon is used as or in the English-language names of various buildings around the world that are memorials to or resting places for the dead, perhaps most famously the Pantheon (French: Panthéon) of Paris, which was begun circa 1757 by the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot as the Church of Sainte-Geneviève.
Did you know?
Some of the earliest uses of this word in the English language refer to that most famous Pantheon, the circular domed temple built in Rome more than 19 centuries ago (and still standing). We can easily identify the origins of the temple's name, which the Romans borrowed from the Greek word for a temple honoring all their gods. That Greek word, pantheion, combines pan- ("all") and theos ("god"). Later on, in English, "all the gods" was used to mean just that—a pantheon could be a collective of gods (as "the Egyptian pantheon"). We stop short of worshiping outstanding men and women as actual gods, of course, but nevertheless, in the 19th century we also began using pantheon as a word for any eminent company of the highly venerated.
Examples of pantheon in a Sentence
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Spencer was well known during her lifetime (1882–1975), but in today’s pantheon of hallmark Harlem Renaissance literary figures, her name is rarely mentioned.
—Latria Graham, AFAR Media, 28 Oct. 2025
After all, the future Hall of Famer is keenly aware of his place in NFL history and should relish a chance to put his name on another exclusive list in the pantheon of greats.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
The pantheon of problematic presidential pardons has always cut across partisan lines.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pantheon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pantheon. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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