Pharaoh

[fair-oh, far-oh, fey-roh]

noun

1. a title of an ancient Egyptian king.

2. (lowercase),  any person who uses power or authority to oppress others; tyrant.

Pharaoh

/ ˈfɛərəʊ, fɛəˈrɒnɪk /

noun

1. the title of the ancient Egyptian kings

pharaoh

1. The title of the kings of ancient Egypt (see also Egypt). In the story of Joseph and his brothers, a pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of his entire kingdom. In the Book of Exodus, a pharaoh repeatedly refuses the request of Moses to let the Israelites leave the country and does not give in until after the worst of the ten plagues of Egypt.

Other Word Forms

• Pharaonic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pharaoh¹

before 900; Middle English Pharao, Old English Pharaon < Latin pharaō < Greek pharaṓ (stem pharaōn- ) < Hebrew phārʿōh < Egyptian pr house + ʿʾ great; originally a designation for the palace, but used to refer to the king from the time of Akhenaton (14th cent. b.c.); -h restored from Hebrew

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pharaoh¹

Old English Pharaon, via Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ultimately from Egyptian pr-`o great house

Example Sentences

Pharaoh was hoisted up so he could stand on the obelisk.

Read more on Literature

The Dutch government said the sculpture of a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III is "deeply meaningful to Egypt's identity".

Read more on BBC

A separate building was designed for the 4,600-year-old solar boat of Pharaoh Khufu, one of the largest and oldest wooden artefacts from antiquity.

Read more on Barron's

Do we turn around and fight the Pharaoh on the shores of the Red Sea, or do we cross?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Appeared in the March 8, 2025, print edition as 'A Pharaoh’s Tomb in Luxor Is Unearthed, First in a Century'.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• emperor 
• king 
• monarch 
• ruler