noun
tsar
sah
noun
1
A historical emperor of Russia, or of certain other Slavic states.
"The last tsar of Russia was overthrown in 1917."
2
A person given great, wide-ranging authority over a particular area.
"The government appointed a new drugs tsar to oversee policy."
How to Use Tsar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHistorically, a Russian emperor; today also used loosely for someone put in charge of a major policy area.
UK vs US
Both "tsar" and the older spelling "czar" are used in English; "tsar" is now more common outside the US.
Common pairings
drugs tsar
the last tsar
Word Forms
tsars plural, tsari plural
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The last _____ of Russia was overthrown in 1917.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian tsar, which ultimately descends from the Latin name Caesar — the same root that gives German "Kaiser."