Roman Empire

The sense "something that one frequently thinks about" is a reference to the "How Often Do You Think About the Roman Empire?" meme, popularized on Instagram and TikTok around September 2023.[1][2]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹəʊmən ˈɛmpaɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹoʊmən ˈɛmpaɪɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

the Roman Empire

1. (historical) The empire which succeeded the Roman Republic and existed between 27 B.C.E. and 476 C.E. in the west (and until 1453 C.E. in the east; see Byzantine Empire), encompassing territories stretching from Britain and Germany to Spain, North Africa and the Persian Gulf. [from 15th c.]

   Synonym: Rome (metonymically)

   Coordinate terms: Roman Kingdom; Roman Republic; Western Roman Empire; Byzantine Empire (Byzantium, Eastern Roman Empire)

2. (historical, now rare) The Holy Roman Empire. [from 16th c.]

Roman Empire (plural Roman Empires)

1. (Internet slang) An unexpected or apparently random topic that one frequently thinks about.
   • 2023 September 18, @fleabagreact, Twitter‎, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     the dinner party episode from fleabag is my roman empire

   • 2023 October 4, u/Soggy_Biscuit_, “Whats your version of the Roman empire?”, in Reddit‎, r/popculturechat, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     Yeah we had a big convo about this at work. I work in a pharmacy which is like 90% women (it's the best) and we collectively decided our "Roman empire" is either Genghis Khan or blood clots, and the teenage version was toxic shock syndrome lol

   • 2023 October 15, @lexkwondo, Twitter‎, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     No one understands how much I crave this. I yearn for this. This is my Roman Empire. You visualize an apple in your head, I visualize this at all times

   • 2023 December 3, u/8Jennyx, “What's a fact you wish you didn't know?”, in Reddit‎, r/AskReddit, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     Prions are my Roman Empire. I swear I think of prions absurdly more than anyone should. The fact that they exist and can do that amount of damage is haunting.

   • 2023 December 5, @GenevaWren38, Twitter‎, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     I have a rotating set of Roman empires, currently it seems to be Foolish & Philza as a duo cause the amount of feral energy that floods me every time I see something regarding them....I adore them

   • 2023 December 17, u/HiLittleDarling, “Let's Discuss, Hollywood Siblings”, in Reddit‎, r/popculturechat, archived from the original on 22 January 2024:

     Wondering why they are feuding can be an occasional Roman Empire for me.