1
: the commander of a trireme
2
: an Athenian citizen who had to fit out a trireme for the public service

Examples of trierarch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To fund their liturgy as a trierarch, a rich taxpayer spent what a skilled worker earned in 10 to 20 years of steady pay, but instead of dodging this responsibility, most embraced it. — Thomas Martin, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin trierarchus, from Greek triērarchos, from triērēs trireme (from tri- + -ērēs — akin to Latin remus oar) + -archos -arch — more at row

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trierarch was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Trierarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trierarch. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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