patrician

American  

[puh-trish-uhn] / pəˈtrɪʃ ən /

noun

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

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

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

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

5. 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.

   Synonyms:

   stately, genteel, dignified

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

patrician British  

/ 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

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

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

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

4. an aristocrat

5. a person of refined conduct, tastes, etc

---

adjective

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

2. aristocratic

3. oligarchic and often antidemocratic or nonpopular

   patrician political views

Other Word Forms

• patricianhood noun
• patricianism noun
• patricianly adverb
• patricianship noun
• prepatrician adjective
• unpatrician adjective

Etymology

Origin of patrician

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; patr- ( def. ), -itious ( def. ), -an ( def. )

Example Sentences

For many Americans, the nationally televised hearing was the first close look at the patrician, grey-haired former FBI director.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

The Athenian patrician Thucydides began writing the history of his city’s conflict with Sparta even as the war was beginning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

This was despite the fact that Bush didn't drink and his very patrician Connecticut lineage went all the way back to President Franklin Pierce.

From Salon • May 16, 2025

Cutler was struck by how Stewart’s experiences differed from the “childhood of privilege and formality” he had imagined, based on her patrician image.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2024

But as the largely self-educated son of a Kentucky farmer, he wasn’t able to tap into the knowingly arcane by-ways of classical history with which his predecessors were able to signal their patrician credentials.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

• aristocratic