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In ancient Greece, Paiā́n (or Paiṓn) was a name used for the god Apollo when in the guise of physician to the gods (Paiā́n/Paiṓn comes from the name of an older Mycenaean healer god). Paiā́n and paiṓn were also used to refer to hymns of thanksgiving and praise sung especially to Apollo, as was their Latin descendant, paean. When paean first appeared in English in the late 16th century, it was used both in the context of Greek history and in general for a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph. Over time, the word became even more generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
Examples of paean in a Sentence
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 July 2026
Alas, all those paeans to freedom have played out better in song than in real life.
—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Daily tales of war and violence around the world made one want to clench one’s fists, grit one’s teeth, and to shout out in a paean of outraged hysteria.
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Zehra Jumabhoy,
Artforum,
25 June 2026
The film, ostensibly started as a promotional tool, ends up being a paean to pop as a site of projection.
—
Shaad D’souza,
Pitchfork,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for paean
Cite this Entry
“Paean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paean. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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paean
noun
