patrician

[ puh-trish-uhn ]
See synonyms for: patricianpatricians on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person of noble or high rank; aristocrat.

  2. a person of very good background, education, and refinement.

  1. a member of the original senatorial aristocracy in ancient Rome.

  2. (under the later Roman and Byzantine empires) a title or dignity conferred by the emperor.

  3. a member of a hereditary ruling class in certain medieval German, Swiss, and Italian free cities.

adjective
  1. of high social rank or noble family; aristocratic.

  2. befitting or characteristic of persons of very good background, education, and refinement: patrician tastes.

  1. of or belonging to the patrician families of ancient Rome.

Origin of patrician

1
First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin patrīci(us) “having the rank of patrician, noble,” (equivalent to patr-, stem of pater “father” + -īcius adjective suffix) + -an; replacing late Middle English patricion, from Old French patricien; see origin at patr-, -itious, -an

Other words for patrician

Other words from patrician

  • pa·tri·cian·hood, pa·tri·cian·ship, noun
  • pa·tri·cian·ism, noun
  • pa·tri·cian·ly, adverb
  • pre·pa·tri·cian, adjective
  • un·pa·tri·cian, adjective

Words Nearby patrician

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use patrician in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for patrician

patrician

/ (pəˈtrɪʃən) /


noun
  1. a member of the hereditary aristocracy of ancient Rome. In the early republic the patricians held almost all the higher offices: Compare plebs (def. 2)

  2. a high nonhereditary title awarded by Constantine and his eastern Roman successors for services to the empire

  1. (in medieval Europe)

    • a title borne by numerous princes including several emperors from the 8th to the 12th centuries

    • a member of the upper class in numerous Italian republics and German free cities

  2. an aristocrat

  3. a person of refined conduct, tastes, etc

adjective
  1. (esp in ancient Rome) of, relating to, or composed of patricians

  2. aristocratic

  1. oligarchic and often antidemocratic or nonpopular: patrician political views

Origin of patrician

1
C15: from Old French patricien, from Latin patricius noble, from pater father

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012