architect

American  

[ahr-ki-tekt] / ˈɑr kɪˌtɛkt /

noun

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

• subarchitect noun
• unarchitected adjective

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

In this case the outsider was the architect Peter Zumthor, who was dazzled by the vast horizontal expanse of Los Angeles, as different as possible from his native Switzerland.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Last November, the auction house moved into the building, which was designed by the architect Marcel Breuer in the mid-1960s and sits on Madison Avenue and 75th Street.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

For a decade, Benin's new president Romuald Wadagni has been the behind-the-scenes architect of sweeping economic reforms that have led to one of the strongest growth rates in west Africa.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

As a scout and general manager, he was a key architect of the Showtime Lakers teams of the 1980s and later acquired both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to build another dynasty.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

I would never be an architect like him.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Related Words

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