balkanic
|bal-kan-ic|
/bælˈkænɪk/
relating to the Balkans; fragmented
Etymology
'balkanic' originates from Turkish, specifically the word 'Balkan', where 'Balkan' meant 'mountain', combined in English with the adjectival suffix '-ic'.
'Balkan' entered English from Turkish/Ottoman Turkish in the 19th century; the modern English adjective was formed by adding the suffix '-ic' to produce 'Balkanic'/'balkanic' to mean 'of or relating to the Balkans'.
Initially it referred specifically to the Balkan mountains ('mountain'), then to the Balkan Peninsula and its peoples; later it also acquired a figurative sense of 'fragmented' (as in 'balkanized').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to the Balkans (the Balkan Peninsula) — its countries, peoples, languages, or culture.
The balkanic region has a rich and diverse cultural heritage.
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Adjective 2
figurative: Characterized by fragmentation into small, often hostile or disunited units (similar to 'balkanized').
The balkanic political landscape made nationwide reform nearly impossible.
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Last updated: 2026/01/05 15:54