czar

or tsar, tzar

[ zahr, tsahr ]

noun

1. an emperor or king.
2. (often initial capital letter) the former emperor of Russia.
3. an autocratic ruler or leader.
4. any person exercising great authority or power in a particular field:

   a czar of industry.

czar

/ zɑː /

noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of tsar

czar

1. The title of rulers or emperors of Russia from the sixteenth century until the Russian Revolution . The czars ruled as absolute monarchs ( see absolute monarchy ) until the early twentieth century, when a parliament was established in Russia. Czar can also be spelled tsar .

Notes

The term czar is sometimes applied generally to a powerful leader or to a government administrator with wide-ranging powers.

Derived Forms

• ˈczardom, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of czar¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Russian tsar', Old Russian tsĭsarĭ “emperor, king” (akin to Old Church Slavonic tsěsarĭ ), from Gothic kaisar “emperor” (from Greek or Latin ); Greek kaîsar, from Latin Caesar; Caesar ( def )

Example Sentences

All of his hiring decisions so far, including Monday’s news that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Tom Homan will serve as Trump’s border czar, and then his selection of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem—a proponent of Trump’s mass expulsion—as secretary of Homeland Security, signal that he actually intends to move forward with the insane idea to deport every single one of the at least 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

From Slate

Trump’s announcement of a newly created position, “border czar,” needs no framing.

From Los Angeles Times

And then there’s Tom Homan, whom Trump has named his “border czar.”

From Los Angeles Times

But you have to wonder what "border czar" Homan, who claims he will have the military at his disposal, means when he says that governors of sanctuary states have to "get the hell out of the way," and that if they don't, "we may have to double the number of agents we send to New York City."

From Salon

Trump has already officially named his "border czar," an unofficial position he apparently plans on imbuing with immense power.

From Salon

Related Words

• ruler