PATRICIAN Definition & Meaning

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patrician

[ puh-trish-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person of noble or high rank; aristocrat.
a person of very good background, education, and refinement.
a member of the original senatorial aristocracy in ancient Rome.
(under the later Roman and Byzantine empires) a title or dignity conferred by the emperor.
a member of a hereditary ruling class in certain medieval German, Swiss, and Italian free cities.

adjective

of high social rank or noble family; aristocratic.
befitting or characteristic of persons of very good background, education, and refinement:
patrician tastes.
Synonyms: , ,
of or belonging to the patrician families of ancient Rome.

patrician

/ ��əˈ�ٰ�ɪʃə�� /

noun

a member of the hereditary aristocracy of ancient Rome. In the early republic the patricians held almost all the higher offices Compare plebs
a high nonhereditary title awarded by Constantine and his eastern Roman successors for services to the empire
in medieval Europe
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
an aristocrat
a person of refined conduct, tastes, etc

adjective

(esp in ancient Rome) of, relating to, or composed of patricians
aristocratic
oligarchic and often antidemocratic or nonpopular
patrician political views

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Other �y��vlog Forms

�貹·�ٰ��c��·��Ǵǻ� �貹·�ٰ��c��·��󾱱� noun
�貹·�ٰ��c��·�� noun
�貹·�ٰ��c��·�� adverb
��p��·�ٰ��c�� adjective
�ܲ�p��·�ٰ��c�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of patrician¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin �貹�ٰ�ī��(�ܲ�) “having the rank of patrician, noble,” (equivalent to patr-, stem of pater “father” + -ī��ܲ� adjective suffix) + -an; replacing late Middle English patricion, from Old French patricien; patr- ( def ), -itious ( def ), -an ( def )

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of patrician¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He’s one of those sci-fi characters whose normal Earthman name distinguishes him as a plebe among patricians.

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

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A man who favored ascots, skeet shooting and jumping horses, Biden Sr. at times lived a more patrician lifestyle than his son’s folksy, working-man tales might suggest.

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Her Clarissa was patrician yet superficial, though partial blame rests with the libretto, in which every other word of hers is “flowers” or “party.”

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Plenty of people have caught Gielgud’s distinctively fluty voice and patrician air, but Gatiss was the emotional anchor of a play that connected with audiences who may have had no idea who Gielgud even was.

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