philosopher king

American

noun

the Platonic ideal of a ruler, philosophically trained and enlightened.

philosopher-king Cultural

In the Republic by Plato, the ideal ruler, who has the virtue and wisdom of a philosopher.

Etymology

Origin of philosopher king

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There he met Peter Thiel, the self-styled philosopher king of the right-wing tech community.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

He has achieved a mythic status in athletics, the fastest philosopher king in the history of the world.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2021

He’s a gentle philosopher king and a spiritual seeker who wants to leave a “service legacy on the Earth,” he said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 27, 2021

Influenced by libertarian Ayn Rand and Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, Thiel, then in his early 30s, carried himself like a contrarian philosopher king.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2021

The true statesman, the philosopher king, in Plato's phrase, sees and serves the public good.

From The Five Great Philosophies of Life by Hyde, William De Witt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023