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

In 2016, Gutiérrez became Spotify’s top lawyer and was an architect and public face of its fight against Apple, which Spotify complained was abusing its control over the App Store.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

"These are very hard times," Anna Knodze, a 26-year-old architect, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

Experience: Winston, a licensed architect and attorney, serves as Los Angeles’ deputy mayor of infrastructure and climate resilience under Mayor Karen Bass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The semi-detached homes have separate owners, but were built by the same architect and contractor to an agreed exterior design.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Root’s death had crushed Burnham, but it also freed him to become a broader, better architect.

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

In all three cases, as we examine in a paper with Terrence Keeley, the consensus was wrong and the public suffered severe consequences, while the architects of failure avoided accountability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Once granted, a large-scale project,, external involving conservation specialists, stone masons and architects, was initiated to restore and then move the statue.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the legislation's leading Republican architects, said the final text incorporated more than 120 changes sought by Democrats.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

A couple of decades ago, films about Musk and Holmes probably would have framed the pair as forward-thinking entrepreneurs and architects of a new era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

As the buildings rose, the architects spotted flaws in their designs but found the forward crush of work so overwhelming, it threatened to leave the flaws locked in stone, or at least staff.

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

Related Words

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