potentate

noun po·ten·tate \ ˈpō-tᵊn-ˌtāt \

Updated on: 17 Mar 2018

Definition of potentate

: ruler, sovereign; broadly : one who wields great power or sway

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Examples of potentate in a Sentence

Charles inherited the position of potentate of the Holy Roman Empire from his grandfather, as well that of king of Spain from his father.

Recent Examples of potentate from the Web

As potentate, the highest elected position within the Tripoli Shrine, Michael Geiger had nearly sovereign power, his attorney told a jury.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Former potentate of the Milwaukee Tripoli Shrine stands trial on embezzlement charges," 28 Feb. 2018
One narrative of the modern Middle East is of potentates trying to stamp their imprint across these often volatile states.

— scott peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "How Iran, the Mideast's new superpower, is expanding its footprint across the region – and what it means," 18 Dec. 2017
Here, the people are not eccentric collectors or sadistic potentates, but twin brothers, farmers and sons of a farmer, who, through first the Great War and then the next, never leave home for any significant period of time.

— hanya yanagihara, New York Times, "Bruce Chatwin: One of the Last Great Explorers," 7 Sep. 2017
Trump received a potentate’s welcome in Saudi Arabia, with his image burnished everywhere.

— michael brendan dougherty, National Review, "Trump’s Yemen Policy Is Immoral and Counterproductive," 13 July 2017
But as a certain political potentate has learned, saying and doing everything that comes to mind has more drawbacks than pluses in the long run.

— kerry reid, chicagotribune.com, "Political satire 'King Ubu' starts out loud and has nowhere to go," 12 June 2017
Governors, who like presidents serve one six-year term, control state legislatures, state auditors and state prosecutors — a dominance that gives them the power of a modern potentate.

— elisabeth malkin, New York Times, "Corruption at a Level of Audacity ‘Never Seen in Mexico’," 19 Apr. 2017
The new potentates in Washington may feel that the dream is within reach.

— alex ross, The New Yorker, "A Gathering of Orchestras in D.C.," 7 Apr. 2017
Foreign potentates and diplomats beware: the United States wants your DNA.

— spencer ackerman, WIRED, "U.S. Chases Foreign Leaders’ DNA, WikiLeaks Shows," 29 Nov. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'potentate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Potentate has been wielding its power in English since the 15th century. It comes from the Late Latin potentatus, which in turn was formed from the Latin potent-, meaning "powerful." Other descendants of potent- in English include potent itself, impotent, and omnipotent, as well as the archaic armipotent and very rare bellipotent (meaning, respectively, "mighty in battle" and "mighty in war"). Even power and powerful can be traced back to potent-.