This week we continue our vocabulary-building series, “The Closing Word.” Each week we provide a new word to help build your vocabulary and show you an example of how to use it.
This week’s closing word:
potentate
Pronounced: (PO-ten-tate)
Noun:
a ruler who is unconstrained by law
From Vocabulary.com: “A potentate is a person so powerful that he or she doesn’t have to follow the rules that govern everyone else. Potentate normally refers to a king or dictator, but you can call anyone with virtually unlimited power a potentate.”
Example:
“The corrupt head of the department of parking and traffic was true potentate, doling out fines and fee forgiveness at whim.”