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

An architect and his partner spent $3.9 million building a Z-shaped house just outside Salt Lake City.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

In 2022, José Gutiérrez, a Mexican-born architect and U.S. citizen who lived in Ohio, was in Zacatecas while visiting his fiancee for the Christmas holidays.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

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

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

For example, he directed a contest to choose a female architect to design the Woman’s Building for the fair.

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

In 2019, the government announced plans to turn it into a police station, and initiated a EU-wide competition for architects to submit designs.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Two weeks after the quakes, engineers and architects are evaluating the homes in this low-income neighborhood, built by its residents.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

And, unlike the AD100-approved interior designers and architects that so many Hollywood stars rely on to bring their dream dwellings to life, the tie that binds these A-listers is actually accessible to the average homeowner.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

It would be hard for the U.S. soccer team to more closely resemble the architects who founded the country, nor the vision those architects had for their creation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

He wanted the best architects America had to offer, not just for their talent but also for how their affiliation instantly would shatter the persistent eastern belief that Chicago would produce only a country fair.

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

Related Words

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