sceptre
Americannoun
noun
-
a ceremonial staff held by a monarch as the symbol of authority
-
imperial authority; sovereignty
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sceptre
C13: from Old French sceptre, from Latin scēptrum, from Greek skeptron staff
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.
The drag star described the show as the "most amazing experience" after collecting the sceptre from series six winner Kyran Thrax.
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025
The result: An imposing figure of a seated emperor, draped in a gilded tunic and holding a sceptre and orb, gazing out over his Rome from a side garden of the Capitoline Museums.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024
Mary Queen of Scots was the first to be crowned using the new crown and sceptre together, in 1543.
From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023
May wisdom be your crown, compassion your sceptre and loving kindness your orb, adorned with the jewels of impartiality, humility and service, for the benefit of beings in this realm and beyond.
From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023
Others disintegrated on their own as the residual power of Diocletian’s sceptre finally failed.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
