# emperor

/ˈɛmpɝɝ/ (US) · /ˈɛmpəɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emperor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ruler of an empire

noun · CEFR B1

the male ruler of an empire, which is a large group of countries or states.

For teachers: the male sovereign or supreme ruler of an empire. Historically, this title suggests authority over multiple kingdoms or diverse territories.

- The emperor ruled over a vast territory that stretched across two continents.
- Historians often debate whether the emperor possessed absolute power or was merely a figurehead for the military elite.

### 2. emperor penguin

noun · CEFR B2

a very large penguin that lives in the Antarctic.

For teachers: a common shorthand for the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species.

- We watched a documentary about how the emperor survives the freezing winter.
- The emperor is unique among birds for its ability to breed during the harshest conditions of the Antarctic winter.

### 3. tarot card

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific card in a tarot deck that usually shows a powerful man.

For teachers: the fourth trump or major arcana card in a tarot deck, typically symbolising authority, structure, and fatherhood.

- She drew the Emperor card, which the reader said meant she needed more discipline.
- In many occult traditions, the Emperor represents the archetypal father and the imposition of order upon the material world.

## Examples

- The emperor ruled over the land for many years.
- Historians still study how the Roman emperor managed to control such a vast territory without modern technology.
- The transition from a republic to a system led by an absolute emperor marked a significant shift in the administrative and social fabric of the ancient state.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.