Russian Empire

American  

[ruhsh-uhn em-pahy^uhr] / ˈrʌʃ ən ˈɛm paɪər /

noun

1. an empire proclaimed in 1721 by Peter I, extending across Eurasia and lasting until the February Revolution of 1917.

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Russian Empire British  

noun

1. the tsarist empire in Asia and E Europe, overthrown by the Russian Revolution of 1917

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Etymology

Origin of Russian Empire

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Russian Empire

The composer George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents from the Russian Empire and began his career writing Tin Pan Alley songs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

When Öpik was born, Estonia was part of the Russian Empire and he would later study at the University of Moscow.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

They know nothing about the old Russian Empire or the Middle East, so why not try their untutored hands at nuclear arms–control talks too?

From Slate ● Feb. 6, 2026

He was the child of working-class Jewish immigrants who fled the tyranny of the Russian Empire for a chance at a better life in New York.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

She was born into a family of musicians in Moscow, the second-largest city of the Russian Empire after Saint Petersburg.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein