pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfer-(ˌ)ō  ˈfā-(ˌ)rō 

often capitalized

1

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

2

: tyrant

Synonyms

• caesar
• despot
• dictator
• führer
• fuehrer
• oppressor
• strongman
• tyrannizer
• tyrant

Examples of pharaoh in a Sentence

like some pharaoh of a third-world country, more interested in building monuments to himself than in creating a future for his people

Recent Examples on the Web

One of those included in the study had attained the high status of vizier and would have reported directly to the pharaoh in his time. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

Egyptian captives were branded with the name of a god, marking them as belongings of the priests or pharaoh. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2023

This cannot work as a long-term solution, even though the monarchies enjoy greater legitimacy among their people than the pharaohs and generals who have ruled in other parts of the Arab world. —Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2012

From the beginning, the vulture was a central symbol of the region as well as of its new ruling class of pharaohs and of the important deity, the goddess Nekhbet. —Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pharao, from Old English, from Late Latin pharaon-, pharao, from Greek pharaō, from Hebrew parʽōh, from Egyptian pr-ʽʾ̹

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pharaoh

• pharaoh ant

Kids Definition

pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfe(ə)r-ō  ˈfa(ə)r- 

ˈfā-rō

often capitalized

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

Etymology

Old English pharao "pharaoh," from Latin pharaon-, pharao (same meaning), from Greek pharaō (same meaning), from Hebrew par'ōh "pharaoh," of Egyptian origin