noun
Czar
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."