czar

American  

[zahr, tsahr] / zɑr, tsɑr /

Or tsar,

noun

1. an emperor or king.

2. (often initial capital letter) the former emperor of Russia.

3. an autocratic ruler or leader.

4. any person exercising great authority or power in a particular field.

   a czar of industry.

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czar British  

/ zɑː /

noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of tsar

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czar Cultural  

1. The title of rulers or emperors of Russia from the sixteenth century until the Russian Revolution. The czars ruled as absolute monarchs (see absolute monarchy) until the early twentieth century, when a parliament was established in Russia. Czar can also be spelled tsar.

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Discover More

The term czar is sometimes applied generally to a powerful leader or to a government administrator with wide-ranging powers.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• czardom
  noun

Etymology

Origin of czar

First recorded in 1545–55; from Russian tsar', Old Russian tsĭsarĭ “emperor, king” (akin to Old Church Slavonic tsěsarĭ ), from Gothic kaisar “emperor” (from Greek or Latin ); Greek kaîsar, from Latin Caesar; see Caesar ( def. )

Explanation

Czar is a Russian word for ruler or emperor. Those kinds of czars are long gone, but we still use the word to describe people in charge of something important. Up until the early 20th century, the ruler in Russia was a man called a czar who had total power, like an emperor or dictator. In English, czar has hung around as a word for anyone in charge of anything. If you run a book club, you might jokingly call yourself a book czar. In the U.S. government, people in charge of large departments are often called czars — like the housing czar or labor czar.

Example Sentences

Playing with a Titleist Pro V1 stamped with "Happy Holidays from THE CZAR" — a gift from broadcast partner Mike Fratello — Stockton nearly chipped one into the pond protecting the third green.

From Chicago Tribune • May 7, 2011

The coldest of King-scorning cynics might wince At that comic conception, a White-livered CZAR!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, June 13, 1891 by Various

Who is he, this mal à propos "little bird" Who twitters such tales of the White-livered CZAR?

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, June 13, 1891 by Various

And if, while you're in Germany, you happen to be bored, Why, you rush away to Russia, and you call upon the CZAR.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, October 4, 1890 by Various

An Autocrat's place is the Conqueror's car, But he who that chariot in triumph would ride, Must not earn a name as the White-livered CZAR!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, June 13, 1891 by Various

Related Words

• ruler