pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfer-(ˌ)ō  ˈfā-(ˌ)rō 

variants often Pharaoh

1

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

2

: tyrant

Synonyms of pharaoh

• dictator
• tyrant

Examples of pharaoh in a Sentence

like some pharaoh of a third-world country, more interested in building monuments to himself than in creating a future for his people

Recent Examples on the Web

The red home shirt featured a pharaoh as its primary background design, so what does the away shirt have? —Nick Miller, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Two other small statues on the pharaoh's feet depict his wife, Tiye. —CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025

The pharaoh ruled for only a decade, until his own death at 19. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025

For the first time since King Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922, all of the pharaoh’s treasures will be stored in one place. —Christian Orozco, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pharao, from Old English, from Late Latin pharaon-, pharao, from Greek pharaō, from Hebrew parʽōh, from Egyptian pr-ʽʾ̹

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pharaoh

• pharaoh ant

Rhymes for pharaoh

• aero
• faro
• garo
• marrow
• narrow
• sparrow
• taro
• bolero
• bracero
• estero
• herero
• montero

Kids Definition

pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfe(ə)r-ō  ˈfa(ə)r- 

ˈfā-rō

often capitalized

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

Etymology

Old English pharao "pharaoh," from Latin pharaon-, pharao (same meaning), from Greek pharaō (same meaning), from Hebrew par'ōh "pharaoh," of Egyptian origin