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noun Uncommon

Kaiser

KEYE-zuh
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Kaiser (noun) means the historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany. Example: “The kaiser abdicated at the end of the First World War.”

noun
1
The historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany.
"The kaiser abdicated at the end of the First World War."
2
Any emperor or autocratic ruler, or someone who acts like one.
"His coworkers joked he ran the office like a little kaiser."
3
A round, crusty bread roll with a distinctive pinwheel pattern on top.
"She ordered a sandwich on a kaiser roll."

How to use Kaiser

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGerman for "emperor," used historically for German and Austrian rulers, and also the name of a type of bread roll.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the bread roll sense with the historical title — context makes it obvious, but they share the same root word.

Easily confused with
tsar → caesar →
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Word forms

Plural
Kaisers
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ abdicated at the end of the First World War.

Etymology

Borrowed from German kaiser ("emperor"), itself ultimately derived from the Roman name Caesar — making it a distant cousin of both "Caesar" and the Russian title "tsar."

Origin: German

Synonyms

View more →
emperor autocrat monarch ruler despot

Related words

king lord chief leader queen prince governor empire

Rhymes for Kaiser

riser miser Wiser cruiser bruiser Fraiser appraiser Budweiser fundraiser
See all rhymes for Kaiser →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Kaiser” mean?
The word “Kaiser” means the historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany. In plain terms, german for "emperor," used historically for German and Austrian rulers, and also the name of a type of bread roll.
How do you pronounce “Kaiser”?
“Kaiser” is pronounced KEYE-zuh (/ˈkaɪzɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Kaiser” in a sentence?
Here is “Kaiser” used in a sentence: “The kaiser abdicated at the end of the First World War.”
What part of speech is “Kaiser”?
“Kaiser” is a noun.
Where does the word “Kaiser” come from?
The word “Kaiser” comes from German. Borrowed from German kaiser ("emperor"), itself ultimately derived from the Roman name Caesar — making it a distant cousin of both "Caesar" and the Russian title "tsar.".
Is “Kaiser” a common word?
“Kaiser” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Kaiser” have?
“Kaiser” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany.
What is the difference between a Kaiser and a Tsar?
Kaiser was the historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany, while Tsar was the equivalent imperial title used in Russia and other Slavic monarchies. Both titles derive from the same root as "Caesar" but were used in different empires.
Is Kaiser used as a general word for a ruler today?
Yes, beyond its historical title, kaiser can be used more broadly for any emperor or autocratic ruler, or figuratively for someone who acts like one, even outside a specifically German or Austrian context.
What is a kaiser roll?
A kaiser roll is a round, crusty bread roll with a distinctive pinwheel pattern on top, a completely different meaning from the imperial title, connected only by sharing the same word.

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Words with German origins Words that start with K

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