Emperor

ˈɛmp(ə)rər

nounmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The supreme ruler of an empire, often with absolute power and authority over a vast territory and its people.

ˈɛmp(ə)rər

nounneutralmedium
General

The ruler of an empire

The emperor's coronation was a lavish ceremony, attended by dignitaries from across the continent.

💡 Simply: Imagine a king who rules over lots and lots of land and people, a whole empire! That's an emperor. They're like the big boss of a huge kingdom.

👶 For kids: The emperor is the boss of a whole country!

More Examples

2

The ancient emperor's decisions shaped the course of history.

3

In many historical settings, the emperor was considered a divine figure.

How It's Used

Historical

"The Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, ushered in an era of peace and prosperity."

Political Science

"The emperor's power was absolute within the boundaries of the empire."

2

The male ruler of an empire; the highest rank of nobility or sovereignty.

ˈɛmp(ə)rər

nounneutralmedium
General

A title for the male ruler of an empire.

The Roman emperor was a powerful and influential figure.

💡 Simply: Like a king, but even more powerful, ruling over a very large territory.

👶 For kids: The emperor is like the boss of a giant country, even bigger than a kingdom.

More Examples

2

The emperor's decree was law throughout the land.

3

The emperor's rule was marked by both periods of prosperity and unrest.

How It's Used

Historical

"The emperor of Japan was a figurehead with limited power."

Mythology

"The emperor of the underworld."

Tip:Emperors EMPower through their policies.

Idioms & expressions

The emperor's new clothes

A situation where people pretend to admire or believe in something that is actually false or nonexistent, often to avoid appearing foolish or critical.

"The company's claims of record profits were just the emperor's new clothes; no one dared to question them publicly."

From Latin *imperator*, originally a title given to a victorious general, later becoming synonymous with the ruler of an empire. The word's evolution reflects the shift from military leadership to supreme political authority.

Used since ancient times to denote supreme rulers, the term has often been associated with absolute power and control over large territories.

Memory tip

Think of an EMPire's ruler, the EMPEROR.

emprorempereremperior

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written