kaiser

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The title of the ruler of the German Empire or of Austria before 1918.

   Grammar: Capitalized with a name or as a title: Kaiser Wilhelm.

   Patterns

   • the Kaiser
   • Kaiser plus a name

   Kaiser Wilhelm II led Germany into the First World War.

   The kaiser abdicated in 1918.

   Soldiers swore loyalty to the Kaiser.

2. 2nouncountableAmerican

   A round bread roll with a crisp crust, often used for sandwiches.

   Grammar: Used mostly in the phrase kaiser roll.

   Patterns

   • a kaiser roll

   He ordered a ham sandwich on a kaiser roll.

   The bakery sells kaisers fresh each morning.

   She spread butter on a warm kaiser.

Word forms

Common combinations

Kaiser Wilhelm

Kaiser Wilhelm ruled from 1888 to 1918.

the Kaiser

Posters showed the Kaiser in uniform.

kaiser roll

A kaiser roll holds a burger well.

the Kaiser's army

The Kaiser's army marched across Belgium.

Austrian kaiser

The Austrian kaiser held court in Vienna.

Synonyms and how they differ

emperor

Emperor is the general English word, while kaiser names a German or Austrian ruler specifically.

tsar

Tsar is the Russian equivalent title.

monarch

Monarch covers kings and queens too, but kaiser is a specific title.

sovereign

Sovereign is a general word for a ruler with supreme power.

Word family

Kaiserreich proper noun

the German Empire from 1871 to 1918

kaiserin noun

the wife of a kaiser, or a female ruler

czar noun

a related word from the same Latin root

Caesar proper noun

the Roman name from which kaiser comes

Commonly confused: kaiser or keiser?

Practice

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