Jump to:

• praetorian
  praetorian

  adjective

  of or relating to a praetor.
• Praetorian
  Praetorian

  adjective

  of or relating to the Praetorian Guard

praetorian

American  

[pree-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr-] / priˈtɔr i ən, -ˈtoʊr- /

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor.

2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the Praetorian Guard.

---

noun

1. a person having the rank of praetor or ex-praetor.

2. (often initial capital letter) a soldier of the Praetorian Guard.

Praetorian ¹ British  

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Praetorian Guard

2. (sometimes not capital) resembling the Praetorian Guard, esp with regard to corruption

---

noun

1. a member of the Praetorian Guard

praetorian ² British  

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor

---

noun

1. a person holding praetorian rank; a praetor or ex-praetor

Etymology

Origin of praetorian

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word praetōriānus. See praetor, -ian

Example Sentences

Dictators obviously maintain unilateral control of their militaries, employed as they invariably are as praetorian protectors and coercive extensions of their autocratic overlords.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2023

Key aspects of the effort to achieve legitimacy were thus more praetorian or Bonapartist than fascist.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2017

Here is a look at five other incidents that have marred the record of the White House's praetorian guard.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2014

After the deaths of two brothers, Mr. Assad has only one left — Maher al-Assad, the chief of the elite praetorian guards charged with protecting the family.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2012

It was Septimius Severus also who made the praetorian prefect, as the representative of the princeps, the head of the civil as well as of the military administration.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly