praetorian

adjective

prae·​to·​ri·​an prē-ˈtȯr-ē-ən 

variants or less commonly pretorian

1

often Praetorian : of, forming, or resembling the Roman imperial bodyguard

2

: of or relating to a praetor

praetorian noun

often Praetorian

Examples of praetorian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a twist of his hand, Hiddleston takes the audience back in time to meet Avianius, a teenage bronzesmith apprentice, Julia Felix, a bathhouse owner, and an unnamed Praetorian guard. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 22 July 2026

Hiddleston relies on professors, scholars, archaeologists and psychologists to piece together what happened to a teenage blacksmith apprentice, a businesswoman/bathhouse proprietor and an unidentified Praetorian guard. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

Putin has a series of failsafe defenses, the equivalent of praetorian guards. — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was founded as a sort of praetorian guard, intended to be only a few thousand strong, meant to safeguard the Islamic revolution. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for praetorian

• chorion
• corean
• dorian
• saurian
• gregorian
• historian
• nestorian
• stentorian
• pythagorean
• valedictorian

Kids Definition

praetorian

1 of 2 adjective

prae·​to·​ri·​an

prē-ˈtōr-ē-ən, 

-ˈtȯr-

1

: of or relating to a Roman praetor

2

often capitalized : of, relating to, or being the bodyguard of a Roman emperor

the praetorian guard

praetorian

2 of 2 noun

often capitalized

: a member of the praetorian guard