empress

[ˈɛmprəs]

empress Definition

  • 1a female ruler of an empire
  • 2the wife of an emperor

Using empress: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "empress" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    Catherine the Great was the empress of Russia.

  • Example

    The empress wore a beautiful gown to the ball.

  • Example

    The empress dowager ruled China for many years.

  • Example

    The emperor and empress were greeted by cheering crowds.

empress Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for empress

Phrases with empress

  • a female monarch who reigns in her own right, as opposed to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king

    Example

    Queen Elizabeth II is an empress regnant.

  • the widow of an emperor who rules in the name of her son or another heir until he reaches adulthood

    Example

    Cixi was an empress dowager of China.

  • a person who is highly influential in the fashion industry

    Example

    Anna Wintour is often referred to as the empress of fashion.

Origins of empress

from Old English 'emperice', from Latin 'imperatrix', feminine form of 'imperator'

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Summary: empress in Brief

An 'empress' [ˈɛmprəs] is a female ruler of an empire or the wife of an emperor. It can refer to a reigning monarch, as in 'Catherine the Great was the empress of Russia,' or to a dowager who rules in the name of her son or another heir, as in 'Cixi was an empress dowager of China.' The term extends into phrases like 'empress regnant,' which denotes a female monarch who reigns in her own right, and 'empress of fashion,' which refers to a person who is highly influential in the fashion industry.