noun
shogun
SHOH-guhn
noun
1
The top military ruler of feudal Japan, who governed in the emperor's name.
"The shogun held real power in Japan for centuries, while the emperor remained a figurehead."
How to Use Shogun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe military ruler who actually governed Japan under the emperor's nominal authority.
Word Forms
shoguns plural, shogun plural
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The _____ held real power in Japan for centuries, while the emperor remained a figurehead.
Etymology
From Japanese 将軍 (shōgun), short for a longer title meaning roughly "great general who subdues barbarians."