# philosopher king

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A hypothetical ideal ruler, trained in philosophy, who has a full understanding of the Platonic ideal of the Form of the Good, and uses this for the benefit of the state.
2. A very wise ruler.

## Etymology
The concept comes from Plato's Republic (circa 375 BCE), which considers the ideal rulers of a city state.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/philosopher-king