The ruler of a country is the person who rules the country.
...the former military ruler of Lesotho. [+ of]
He was a weak-willed and indecisive ruler.
2. countable noun
A ruler is a long flat piece of wood, metal, or plastic with straight edges marked in centimetres or inches. Rulers are used to measure things and to draw straight lines.
More Synonyms of ruler
ruler in British English
(ˈruːlə)
noun
1.
a person who rules or commands
2. Also called: rule
a strip of wood, metal, or other material, having straight edges graduated usually in millimetres or inches, used for measuring and drawing straight lines
ruler in American English
(ˈrulər)
noun
1.
a person or thing that rules or governs
2.
a thin strip of wood, metal, etc. with a straight edge and markings in whole and fractional units of length, as inches or centimeters, used in drawing straight lines, measuring length, etc.
3.
a person or device that rules lines on paper, etc.
Derived forms
rulership (ˈrulerˌship)
noun
Examples of 'ruler' in a sentence
ruler
That is, she was an advisor to the ruler of all Jamaillia, an expert within her chosen area.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Yet I strove to make him not only content with his lot, but a better ruler than he otherwise would have been.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Likes his t's crossed with a ruler, that coroner,' said Headingley finally.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2002)
Patrick, Prince of Krondor and ruler of the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles, said, "Very well.
Raymond E. Feist SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN (2002)
In other languages
ruler
British English: ruler /ˈruːlə/ NOUN
leader A ruler is a person who rules a country.
...a former military ruler.
American English: ruler commander
Arabic: حَاكِم
Brazilian Portuguese: governante
Chinese: 统治者
Croatian: vladar
Czech: vládce
Danish: hersker
Dutch: heerser
European Spanish: gobernante
Finnish: hallitsija
French: dirigeant
German: Herrscher
Greek: κυβερνήτης
Italian: sovrano
Japanese: 支配者 commander
Korean: 통치자
Norwegian: hersker
Polish: rządzący
European Portuguese: governante
Romanian: conducător
Russian: правитель
Latin American Spanish: gobernante
Swedish: härskare
Thai: ผู้ควบคุม
Turkish: hükümdar
Ukrainian: правитель
Vietnamese: người cai trị
British English: ruler /ˈruːlə/ NOUN
for measuring A ruler is a long, flat piece of wood or plastic with straight edges. You use a ruler for measuring things or drawing straight lines.
American English: ruler measure
Arabic: مَسْطَرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: régua
Chinese: 尺子
Croatian: ravnalo
Czech: pravítko
Danish: lineal
Dutch: liniaal
European Spanish: regla utensilio
Finnish: viivoitin
French: règle outil
German: Lineal
Greek: χάρακας
Italian: righello
Japanese: 定規 measure
Korean: 자
Norwegian: linjal
Polish: linijka
European Portuguese: régua
Romanian: riglă
Russian: линейка
Latin American Spanish: regla instrumento para medir
Swedish: linjal
Thai: ไม้บรรทัด
Turkish: cetvel
Ukrainian: лінійка
Vietnamese: thước
Chinese translation of 'ruler'
ruler
(ˈruːləʳ)
n(c)
(for measuring) 直尺 (zhíchǐ) (把, bǎ)
(= sovereign) 统(統)治者 (tǒngzhìzhě)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person who rules or commands
He was an indecisive ruler.
Synonyms
governor
the governor of the province in the late 1970s
leader
the leader of the Conservative Party
lord
It was the home of the powerful lords of Baux.
commander
The commander and some of his troops had been released.
controller
monarch
She will never stand down as monarch and we fully support her.
sovereign
the first British sovereign to set foot on Spanish soil
head of state
potentate
a rich Eastern potentate
crowned head
emperor or empress
king or queen
prince or princess
2 (noun)
Definition
a strip of wood, metal, or plastic, with straight edges, used for measuring and drawing straight lines
taking measurements with a ruler
Synonyms
measure
a tape measure
rule
yardstick
an exceptional vintage by any yardstick
straight edge
subject word lists
See Titles of rulersSee Famous rulers
Additional synonyms
in the sense of commander
Definition
an officer in command of a military group or operation
The commander and some of his troops had been released.
Synonyms
leader,
director,
chief,
officer,
boss,
head,
captain,
ruler,
commander-in-chief,
commanding officer,
C in C,
C.O.,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of leader
Definition
a person who rules, guides, or inspires others
the leader of the Conservative Party
Synonyms
principal,
president,
head,
chief,
boss (informal),
director,
manager,
chairperson,
captain,
chair,
premier,
governor,
commander,
superior,
ruler,
conductor,
controller,
counsellor,
supervisor,
superintendent,
big name,
big gun (informal),
chieftain,
bigwig (informal),
ringleader,
big shot (informal),
overseer,
big cheese (slang, old-fashioned),
big noise (informal),
big hitter (informal),
torchbearer,
number one,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of lord
Definition
a person with power or authority over others, such as a monarch or master
It was the home of the powerful lords of Baux.
Synonyms
ruler,
leader,
chief,
king,
prince,
master,
governor,
commander,
superior,
monarch,
sovereign,
liege,
overlord,
potentate,
seigneur
Synonyms of 'ruler'
ruler
Explore 'ruler' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of monarch
Definition
a sovereign head of state, esp. a king, queen, or emperor, who rules by hereditary right
She will never stand down as monarch and we fully support her.
Synonyms
ruler,
king or queen,
sovereign,
tsar,
potentate,
crowned head,
emperor or empress,
prince or princess
in the sense of potentate
Definition
a ruler or monarch
a rich Eastern potentate
Synonyms
ruler,
king,
prince,
emperor,
monarch,
sovereign,
mogul,
overlord
in the sense of sovereign
Definition
the Royal ruler of a country
the first British sovereign to set foot on Spanish soil