noun
Czar
Czar (noun) means an emperor of Russia before the 1917 revolution; more generally, an autocratic ruler. Example: “Nicholas II was the last czar of Russia.”
noun
1
An emperor of Russia before the 1917 revolution; more generally, an autocratic ruler.
"Nicholas II was the last czar of Russia."
"The rebels wanted to overthrow the czar and his government."
2
A government official given broad authority over one specific area of policy.
"The president appointed a new drug czar to oversee narcotics policy."
"She was named the city's housing czar, in charge of all affordable-housing programs."
How to use Czar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHistorically, a Russian emperor; today, mostly used loosely for an official put in charge of one specific problem area.
Common mistake
Also spelled "tsar" — both spellings are correct, but "czar" is more common in American English for the informal "policy chief" sense.
Common pairings
drug czar
energy czar
the last czar
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Nicholas II was the last _____ of Russia.
Etymology
From Russian tsar, ultimately from Latin Caesar — the same root that gives German "Kaiser."
Synonyms
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tsar
tzar
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Czar” mean?
The word “Czar” means an emperor of Russia before the 1917 revolution; more generally, an autocratic ruler. In plain terms, historically, a Russian emperor; today, mostly used loosely for an official put in charge of one specific problem area.
How do you use “Czar” in a sentence?
Here is “Czar” used in a sentence: “Nicholas II was the last czar of Russia.”
What part of speech is “Czar”?
“Czar” is a noun.
Where does the word “Czar” come from?
The word “Czar” comes from Latin. From Russian tsar, ultimately from Latin Caesar — the same root that gives German "Kaiser.".
How many meanings does “Czar” have?
“Czar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an emperor of Russia before the 1917 revolution; more generally, an autocratic ruler.
