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• 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.

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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

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noun

1. a member of the Praetorian Guard

praetorian ² British  

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor

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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

See Examples For:

praetorian Praetorian

Bashir had empowered Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, to run the RSF as a praetorian guard to protect him against possible challenges from within the army.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

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

“It’s an army within an army, the regime’s praetorian guard,” he said.

From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2023

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

From Slate ● Feb. 9, 2017

A man of praetorian rank named Largius Macedo, who forgot, or perhaps too vividly remembered, his own servile origin, was known as a cruel and haughty master.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill

Besides the emperor’s residence, the complex included gardens, places of worship, quarters for the Praetorian Guard that protected the ruler and a service district for workers that overlooked the Roman Forum.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2023

Wagner's greatest military success is probably acting as a Praetorian guard for the presidency and foiling a military coup in CAR's capital, Bangui.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2023

She was the sister of the emperor Caligula and the niece of his successor Claudius, who became emperor after Caligula was murdered by his own Praetorian Guard in C.E.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 9, 2023

He also established a permanent police force in the city, the Praetorian Guard, which he recruited from the Roman army.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023

But suddenly she became aware that a member of the Praetorian Guard was standing behind her.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks