From Middle English pretorian, from Latin praetōriānus.

• IPA: /pɹɪˈtɔːɹiən/

praetorian (not comparable)

1. (Ancient Rome) Of or pertaining to a praetor.
2. (Ancient Rome) Of or pertaining to the pretorium in an ancient Roman camp.

   The praetorian gate was directly in front of the general's tent, and nearest to the enemy.

3. (Ancient Rome) Of or pertaining to the special bodyguard force used by Roman emperors.

   praetorian guard

   • 2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 4 ↗:

     Hey, sir? Sir, excuse me?” The blonde was calling out to him, in imperious tones that insisted on a reply. Her satraps became watchful, like a Praetorian guard.

4. (by extension) Corruptly mercenary and venal.

praetorian (plural praetorians)

1. (Ancient Rome) A praetor; a person of praetorian rank.
   • 1851 November 13, Herman Melville, chapter 108, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC ↗:

     I am so rich, I could have given bid for bid with the wealthiest Prætorians at the auction of the Roman empire (which was the world’s); and yet I owe for the flesh in the tongue I brag with.

2. (Ancient Rome) Alternative case form of Praetorian.
3. (by extension) A venal mercenary.

praetorian (plural praetorians)

1. (historical, Ancient Rome) A member of a special bodyguard force used by Roman emperors, their symbol being the scorpion.

• French: prétorien
• German: Prätorianer