czar

or tsar, tzar

[ zahr, tsahr ]

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.

czar

/ zɑː /

noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of tsar

czar

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 .

Notes

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

Derived Forms

• ˈczardom, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of czar¹

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; Caesar ( def )

Example Sentences

Four people have died of Ebola and that already has a ‘czar.’

From The Daily Beast

The Republican reaction is starting to shift from calls for a czar to calls for a different czar.

From The Daily Beast

Ironically, the Obama administration was forced to battle a Republican czar panic in the early days of its administration.

From The Daily Beast

The appointment of the new Ebola czar comes after Republicans began demanding a White House point person on the threat.

From The Daily Beast

On Friday, the president announced the appointment of political and policy operative Ron Klain as “Ebola czar.”

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, unknown to the Marshal, the Emperor had accepted the Czar's demands for an armistice.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Czar's mind had early taken a strange ply which it retained to the last.

From Project Gutenberg

The Czar returned the visit with the same precautions, and was admitted into Kensington House by a back door.

From Project Gutenberg

It was, indeed, not in the character of tenant that the Czar was likely to gain the good word of civilised men.

From Project Gutenberg

The czar had his hat pierced by a ball, and prince Menzikoff had three horses killed under him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ruler