patrician

1 of 2

noun

pa·tri·cian pə-ˈtri-shən

plural patricians

Synonyms of patrician next

: a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome

: a person of high birth : aristocrat

one of the most nobly born of English patricians—

Sam Schulman

: a person of breeding and cultivation

a tall patrician … who looked as if she was accustomed to serving on boards and making important decisions—

J. A. Michener

patrician

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, having, or characterized by high birth, rank, or station : aristocratic

a patrician family

But coming from a long patrician line of New England gentry … he is vulnerable to the populist card that his rivals are playing hard.—

Peter Oborne

More common than middle-class organizations in the mid-nineteenth century, however, were the exclusive patrician male enclaves, such as Boston's Somerset club …—

Howard P. Chudacoff

: associated with or characteristic of people of high social rank

his patrician bearing

a stately, patrician residence

… they spent freely on virtually everything that could be acquired to accommodate a patrician life-style.—

Simon Schama

… some visitors may prefer the more patrician comfort of hotels in L'Aquila.—

Niccolò Vivarelli

: of or relating to a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome

… his pride was gratified by the choice of Nomius and Anatolius, two ministers of consular or patrician rank …—

Edward Gibbon

Did you know?

A patrician was originally a descendant of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome. Until about 350 B.C., only patricians could hold the office of senator, consul, or pontifex (priest). Later, the word was applied to members of the nobility created by the Roman emperor Constantine. As time went by, other nobles, such as those in medieval Italian republics and in German city-states, also came to be known as patricians. Today someone's appearance, manners, or tastes can be described as patrician, whether the person is actually of high birth or not. The actress Grace Kelly, an immigrant's daughter, was admired for her patrician beauty even before she became Princess Grace of Monaco, with classic features worthy of ancient Rome's finest sculptors.

Examples of patrician in a Sentence

Noun the Southern patricians who once resided in these stately plantation homes Adjective came from a patrician family

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

There are dashes of class criticism mixed into the proceedings, largely with the Ravenscroft family, though nothing beyond light reference to Robert’s patrician background. —

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 But Trump is not the familiar breed of stuffy, patrician Republican. —

Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 31 July 2024

Adjective

Van Zweden has been a courteous concerto accompanist, and in January, with the pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, a soloist of patrician grace, Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto glowed, surging forward without feeling pressed. —

Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 June 2024 Such positions, along with the pope’s easygoing manner, earned him a form of pop-cultural celebrity never sought or won by his immediate predecessor, the dour and patrician Benedict. —

Maria Clara Bingemer, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018 See all Example Sentences for patrician

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English patricion, from Anglo-French patrician, from Latin patricius, from patres senators, from plural of pater father — more at father

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of patrician was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Patrician.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrician. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

patrician

noun

pa·tri·cian pə-ˈtrish-ən

: a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome

: a person of high birth or position : aristocrat

patrician adjective

Last Updated: 13 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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patrician

noun

adjective

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Synonyms

Examples of patrician in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near patrician

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Kids Definition