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

Yet the future secretary of state — and architect of the Marshall Plan — was most concerned with competence and candor leading to military effectiveness.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

In reality, I’m sitting with Kelela, the electronic R&B architect whose uncompromising vision has quietly reshaped the contours of alternative music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

“Our contractors and architect brought in experts for woodwork restoration and slate-roof replacement.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

This ambition is spelled out in the new US National Security Strategy, and Rubio, himself of Cuban heritage, is its chief architect.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

He was an architect and had done his work pretty well in Chicago, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Manila, and many other cities.

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

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

Its Great Society architects wanted “to help break the cycle of poverty, providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Ashton said he gave up after hiring two architects and spending more than $20,000 on a byzantine permitting process that, he believed, held his business to an unfair standard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

One of the system's architects Frazer Rhodes said the latest alert "really has divided opinion" and the government should set out the criteria for when it will and will not be used.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

As a result, architects relied on old and dangerous habits, such as substituting wood for stone and decorating their buildings with wooden awnings, cupolas, and cornices.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

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