empress

em-press · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A female sovereign or supreme ruler of an empire.

  2. 2.

    The wife or widow of an emperor.

Forms

plural: empresses

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    Empress Dowager — the widow of an emperor, especially in Chinese history
  • •
    empress consort — the wife of a reigning emperor

Related words

Antonyms: commoner, subject
See also: emperor, empire, monarch, queen
Synonyms: monarch, queen, ruler, sovereign

Etymology

From Old French empereriz (feminine of empereor), from Latin imperatrix (feminine of imperator "commander"). First used in English in the 12th century.