Potentate
A ruler, especially an autocratic or absolute monarch; someone with supreme power.
nounPotentate
A ruler, especially an autocratic or absolute monarch; someone with supreme power.
nounImagine This
Imagine a grand throne room where a single potentate sits atop a raised dais, a gleaming scepter in hand. Courtiers bow as he issues sweeping edicts, and the realm rearranges itself to fit his every command.
Sounds Like
POH-tən-teyt
Looks Like
looks like potent + ate (powerful + suffix for a person)
Remember This
Potentate is a formal, often historical or literary term for an autocratic ruler. It stresses the concentration of power more than generic terms like king or leader.
Other Forms
Note
Do not confuse with 'potent' (powerful) or 'potential'. Potentate specifically refers to a ruler who wields unchecked authority; the tone is often archaic or critical.