pharaoh

noun

pha·​raoh ˈfer-(ˌ)ō  ˈfā-(ˌ)rō 

often capitalized

1

: a ruler of ancient Egypt

2

: tyrant

Synonyms

• 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 announcement comes weeks after officials announced that a pharaoh's priceless bracelet had been stolen the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025

The mysteries of Cleopatra’s death Despite her short life of just 39 years, Cleopatra made an impact on the ancient world as one of a handful of female rulers and the last pharaoh of Egypt. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

Was the implication that Seqenenra couldn’t even control the hippopotami — a basic skill for any self-respecting pharaoh? —Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025

Many archaeologists believe the pharaoh was buried near the royal palace in Alexandria, which sank into the sea following an earthquake and tsunami in A.D. 365. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 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