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

The Minions decimated the entire dinosaur population, crushed pharaohs to death with a faulty pyramid design, and even disintegrated Dracula into dust due to a mistimed birthday party. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 July 2024

Last year, the museum opened its grand lobby, where a huge statue of the pharaoh Ramses II holds court. —George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 1 Nov. 2024

When scientists reared pharaoh cuttlefish embryos in the same tank as unassuming clownfish, initially, the embryos stayed put. —Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

The two most likely candidates were the daughter of late 17th Dynasty pharaoh Seqenenre Taa II (1558–1553 BCE) or the daughter of Nefertiti and Ramses II (1279–1213 BCE), aka Ramses the Great. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 1 Aug. 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