byzantine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "byzantine" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is excessively complicated or intricate, often in a bureaucratic context. An example: "The byzantine regulations made it difficult for small businesses to comply." Alternative expressions include "complex," "intricate," or " convoluted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Cappadocia, the thrill of hurtling along a trail on two wheels is amplified by its otherworldly landscape of rock pillars, known as "fairy chimneys", many reaching more than 40 metres high, as well as its cave houses and ancient Byzantine churches.

The Guardian - Travel

First, the cook must rustle up the stuffing – a byzantine combination of, among other things, breadcrumbs, veal, pork, butter, caraway seeds, poppy seeds, apples, orange, crushed tinned pineapple and preserved ginger – and sew it carefully into the bird, which is then browned in a very hot oven.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Byzantine migration bureaucracy will remain in place even for those traveling visa-free Industry insiders say Kazakhstan is missing an opportunity by ignoring independent travelers, who may travel on a shoestring but whose money directly benefits far-flung, local communities.

The Guardian

Backpackers say they are attracted by Kazakhstan's natural beauty, but are put off by high prices and other problems, including a Byzantine migration bureaucracy that will remain in place even for those traveling visa free.

The Guardian

"Virtually every property owner in the nation will now be subject to the unpredictable, unsound and often Byzantine regulatory regimes of the EPA," they wrote.

The Guardian

The bureaucracy is Byzantine.

The Guardian - Travel

If public perceptions do begin to coalesce behind one or the other candidate, the other may have little choice but to concede, whatever legal options remain.In Depth: The longer the disputed election continues, the more Byzantine the possibilitiesIn Depth: Despite all the uncertainties, some things are already clear about this election.

The Economist

Even Mr Gore has said that he does not expect his battle to survive beyond that.Bush claims victoryPartisanship triumphantThe role of judgesThe battle for FloridaThe longer the disputed election continues, the more Byzantine the possibilitiesDespite all the uncertainties, some things are already clear about this election.

The Economist

What about Rio's Byzantine government (power is divided between federal, state and municipal government, and the armed forces own huge chunks of land in the city)?

The Economist

The Venetians were making glass by the eighth century, but the flourishing of the craft was linked to the arrival of Byzantine glassworkers fleeing Constantinople's occupation by the Crusaders in 1204 and by the Ottomans in 1453.

The Economist

Mr Obama may either have to renege on his promise to slash the deficit to 3% of GDP in 2013 from more than 12% now, rein in his spending promises or raise taxes more.Second, Mr Obama's scattershot tax increases are a poor substitute for the wholesale reform America's Byzantine tax code needs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Capitalize "Byzantine" when referring to the historical empire, its art, or its architecture, but feel free to use lowercase when using the term figuratively for complexity, though both are often accepted.

Common error

Avoid using "byzantine" to mean 'corrupt' or 'criminal'. While a "byzantine" system might hide corruption, the word itself refers to the structure's intricacy and deviousness rather than the morality of the outcome.

Linguistic Context

In modern English, "byzantine" functions primarily as an adjective that characterizes either historical artifacts or, more figuratively, systems of extreme complexity. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used to modify nouns like "regulations", "bureaucracy", "rules" and "systems". Its grammatical role is typically attributive, though it appears predicatively as seen in the example "The bureaucracy is byzantine."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "byzantine" is a versatile adjective that bridges the gap between historical description and modern critique. Whether describing ancient "Byzantine" churches or a modern "byzantine" tax code, the term consistently implies a richness—or an excess—of detail and structure. Ludwig AI reveals that the term is a favorite in professional journalism for describing systems that are frustratingly complex. When using it, remember that it carries a heavy stylistic weight, suggesting that the complexity in question is not just difficult, but perhaps needlessly intricate or even devious. It remains a high-value word for writers seeking to convey a sense of structural depth and confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convoluted

emphasizes a twisted or coiled nature that is difficult to follow

labyrinthine

suggests a maze-like structure that is easy to get lost in

tortuous

implies a path or logic full of repeated twists and turns

intricate

carries a more neutral or even positive sense of detailed complexity

over-elaborate

focuses on the unnecessary effort spent on detailing

daedalian

provides a more literary and sophisticated alternative

knotty

focuses specifically on the difficulty of untangling or solving a problem

tangled

implies a messy or disordered lack of clarity

serpentine

focuses on a winding, snake-like shape or logic

complex

serves as a simpler and broader general-purpose term

FAQs

How do I use "byzantine" in a sentence?

You can use "byzantine" to describe overly complicated systems, such as: "The company's "byzantine bureaucracy" made it impossible to get a simple answer."

What is a synonym for "byzantine"?

Depending on the context, you can use terms like "convoluted", "labyrinthine" or "intricate".

Should "byzantine" be capitalized?

When referring to the history or art of the Eastern Roman Empire, capitalize it as "Byzantine". When used as a synonym for complex, it is often written in lowercase, although many style guides prefer capitalization even in figurative use.

What is the difference between "byzantine" and "convoluted"?

While both mean complex, "convoluted" often refers to a twisted or unclear logic, whereas "byzantine" specifically evokes a sense of administrative or bureaucratic layers.