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

No one bats 1.000, of course, not even Andrew Friedman, the architect of the Dodgers’ three World Series titles since taking over as president of baseball operations in 2014.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

No figure articulated that connection more explicitly than White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, a central architect of Trump’s immigration agenda.

From Salon • Jun. 27, 2026

The modern Harvard Cornell partnership began in 1958 under Harvard archaeologist George M. A. Hanfmann and Cornell architect Henry Detweiler from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, whose expertise centered on documenting historic buildings.

From Science Daily • Jun. 25, 2026

Rebecca Cooper, another architect at RAFT, says while schools might "instinctively" think of installing air conditioning, there are also "passive measures you can use strategically".

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

My father’s father—my grandfather—had been an architect in Iran, responsible for designing some of the country’s most beautiful buildings, and I could see that same kind of brain in my dad.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi

Related Words

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