senator

[sen-uh-ter]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR senator ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a member of a senate.

(initial capital letter) (in the U.S.) a title of respect accorded a person who is or has been a member of the Senate.

Origin of senator

1175–1225; Middle English senatour < Anglo-French < Latin senātor, equivalent to sen(ātus) senate + -ātor -ator

Related formssen·a·tor·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for senator

lawmaker, politician, legislator, statesman

Examples from the Web for senator

Contemporary Examples of senator

Ed Brooke, the first African-American Senator since Reconstruction, embraced fights with the left and right.
Ed Brooke: The Senate's Civil Rights Pioneer and Prophet of a Post-Racial America
John Avlon
January 4, 2015
I am reminded of the story of Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent, VT) walking along the shores of Lake Champlain.
Santa Fails One More Time
P. J. O’Rourke
December 27, 2014
The Kentucky senator seems to be making the ‘Seinfeld’ holiday a tradition on Twitter.
Rand Paul Has a Few Festivus Grievances
Ben Jacobs
December 23, 2014
The biggest blowback will be against the ‘reforming’ Kentucky senator, because Republicans back cops, period.
GOP Won’t Forgive Rand for Cop Critique
Lloyd Green
December 23, 2014
Right now, former Virginia Senator James Webb may prove the best vehicle for dino-Democratic ideas.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats
Joel Kotkin
December 21, 2014

Historical Examples of senator

The senator breathed the word deep in his throat and fell silent.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower
She no longer feared the senator, but she refused to speculate upon what Chip might do.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower
"I do like young people to have a healthy appetite," said the Senator.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
I was not surprised, then, to hear him referred to as the "Senator."
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson
Senator Ruy Barbosa has justly interpreted the meaning of my visit.
Latin America and the United States
Elihu Root

British Dictionary definitions for senator

senator

noun

(often capital) a member of a Senate or senate

any legislator or statesman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for senator

c.1200, "member of an (ancient) senate," from Old French senator (Modern French sénateur), from Latin senator "member of the senate," from senex "old; old man" (see senate). An Old English word for one was folcwita. As "member of a (modern) governing body" from late 14c.; specifically in U.S. use from 1788. Fem. form senatress attested from 1731. The Senators was the name of the professional baseball team in Washington, D.C., from 1891 to 1971.