architect

American  

[ahr-ki-tekt] / ˈɑr kɪˌtɛkt /

noun

architects plural

1. a person who engages in the profession of architecture.

2. a person professionally engaged in the design of certain large constructions other than buildings and the like.

   landscape architect; naval architect.

3. the deviser, maker, or creator of anything.

   the architects of the Constitution of the United States.

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verb (used with object)

1. to plan, organize, or structure as an architect.

   The house is well architected.

architect British  

/ ˈɑːkɪˌtɛkt /

noun

1. a person qualified to design buildings and to superintend their erection

2. a person similarly qualified in another form of construction

   a naval architect

3. any planner or creator

   the architect of the expedition

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verb

1. (tr) to plan or create (something, esp a computer system)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subarchitect
  noun
• unarchitected
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• architects
  plural

Etymology

Origin of architect

1555–65; < Latin architectus < Greek architéktōn, equivalent to Greek archi- archi- + tektōn builder, craftsman

Explanation

A person who designs buildings is an architect. If you become an architect, you'll be responsible for drawing the blueprints, planning the work, and sometimes even overseeing the construction of a building. Frank Lloyd Wright was a famous architect who helped complete over 500 projects in his lifetime, including private homes, skyscrapers, museums, churches, and schools. Architects work on buildings of all types, and the Greek root arkhitektōn literally means “chief builder.” An architect can construct other things too, like the architects who design a video game, or the architect of your misfortune who dumped green slime on your head at a school dance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

architect architects

Felino Palafox, a renowned Filipino architect and urban planner, told the BBC that space was a major challenge in building more tennis courts.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Erich Mendelsohn, the young architect, was a member of Munich’s artistic avant-garde, while Erwin Finlay Freundlich, one of the first German physicists to endorse the theory of relativity, belonged to the scientific avant-garde.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

At 34, Iryna Terekh, an architect by training, heads Fire Point, a company that has become one of the driving forces behind Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities in the war with Russia.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

In response, Jefferson started a newspaper contest to elicit plans for what became the Capitol, designed by Dr. William Thornton, the amateur architect who won the contest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

When a fellow architect asked Sullivan for suggestions on how to improve one of his designs, Sullivan replied, “If I told you, you wouldn’t know what I was talking about.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

A point of pride for the university, the course was designed nearly 100 years ago by one of golf’s most heralded architects, Alister MacKenzie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

“It’s important that people appreciate and understand the vision these architects had,” Teri Lauenstein said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Ministers say lawyers, accountants and architects are among professionals who will benefit.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

A presidential commission to determine how habitable buildings are has been organizing workshops to prepare engineers and architects to inspect buildings damaged by the earthquakes.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

While she continued to manage that business until it finally sold, my dad was meeting with architects and contractors daily.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

• artist
• builder
• creator
• designer
• engineer
• inventor
• planner