Potentate

[ poht-n-teyt ]

noun

1. One who has the power and position to rule over others; monarch or ruler

Examples of potentate in a sentence:

• Our president cannot become a potentate because he has to share his power with two other branches of government.
• Since the dictator has his huge army behind him, he can behave as a potentate because no one will challenge his unrestricted power.