Definition

Proper noun * An administrative region of Italy: Lazio is one of the twenty administrative regions of Italy. It is located in the central part of the country. * A historical region: Historically, Lazio refers to the ancient territory in west-central Italy, southeast of Rome, bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea. This area was home to the Latins and was the core region of the Roman Republic and Empire.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Rome is the capital city of both Italy and the Lazio region.
  • Many tourists visit Lazio not only for Rome but also for its beautiful coastal towns and medieval hill villages.
  • The ancient history of Lazio is deeply connected to the rise of the Roman civilization.

Advanced Usage

• In historical context: When discussing classical antiquity, "Lazio" is often used synonymously with "Latium," its Latin name.
  • The tribes of ancient Lazio formed the Latin League.

Variants and Related Words

• Latium: The Latin name for the region of Lazio, used primarily in historical and classical contexts.
• Latin: Pertaining to Latium, its people, or their language.
• Roman: Pertaining to Rome, the principal city within Lazio.

Synonyms

• Latium (historical)

Notes on Meaning

The modern administrative region of Lazio is larger than the ancient region of Latium. The ancient territory was a smaller area southeast of Rome, while the modern region encompasses Rome itself and a wider area. In contemporary usage, "Lazio" almost always refers to the modern Italian region.

Noun

1. an ancient region of west central Italy (southeast of Rome) on the Tyrrhenian Sea