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

Tongue was the architect of Pakistan losing their last five wickets for 21 runs.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

“This is a supply chain that took years and years to architect and has basically fallen apart in 60 days,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962, the terminal has a dramatic, glass-walled facade with a sloping roofline that recalls a wingspan.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

The Venice compound, which was built in 2004 by Los Angeles-based architect Kevin Mulcahy and which Scott purchased in 2017 for $2.2 million, spans 4,600 square feet.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

The idea basically belonged to Count Rugen, who helped the Prince architect the place.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

And yet the plan is not working — at least not in the way its architects intended.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Phil became an opera company and Disney an almost fullfledged opera house, staging Mozart’s three Da Ponte operas with sets by famed architects, beginning with Gehry, and costumes by edgy designers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

“As AI compute workloads increase in both speed and bandwidth, data-center architects are turning to optical links as a primary means of connectivity,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Making matters worse, the plan’s architects overstated the river’s flow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

At Root’s house the next day Harriet Monroe met the eastern architects and came away shaken.

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

Related Words

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