pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfer-(ˌ)ō  ˈfā-(ˌ)rō 

often capitalized

1

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

2

: tyrant

Synonyms

• caesar
• despot
• dictator
• führer
• fuehrer
• oppressor
• strongman
• tyrannizer
• tyrant

Examples of pharaoh in a Sentence

like some pharaoh of a third-world country, more interested in building monuments to himself than in creating a future for his people

Recent Examples on the Web

The ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was buried in a tomb filled with treasure. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025

Over the decades, their efforts have ranged from restoration projects to excavations to in-depth analysis of the temple, dedicated to the pharaoh Ramses II, or Ramses the Great. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025

The Pharaoh Cat Finder is an AI-powered tool that lets animal lovers upload a picture of their cat via Instagram direct message to be analyzed for characteristics similar to those of the pharaohs' cats. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025

In fact, the tomb of the unknown pharaoh is just one of two major recent finds in the Sohag Governorate, as Ahram Online’s Nevine El-Aref points out. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pharao, from Old English, from Late Latin pharaon-, pharao, from Greek pharaō, from Hebrew parʽōh, from Egyptian pr-ʽʾ̹

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pharaoh

• pharaoh ant

Rhymes for pharaoh

• aero
• faro
• garo
• marrow
• narrow
• sparrow
• taro
• bolero
• bracero
• estero
• herero
• montero

Kids Definition

pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfe(ə)r-ō  ˈfa(ə)r- 

ˈfā-rō

often capitalized

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

Etymology

Old English pharao "pharaoh," from Latin pharaon-, pharao (same meaning), from Greek pharaō (same meaning), from Hebrew par'ōh "pharaoh," of Egyptian origin