A potentate (from the Latin potens, 'powerful') is an informal term for a person with potent, usually supreme, power.

used by the Christian Church to describe God. One example of this use is in the hymn "crown him with many crowns" in which God is described as "potentate of time"

• Originally it designated the absolute monarch (synonymous with autocrat, which was also used as a title) of a great state.

From the negative connotations of such rule, mainly in the Orient, derives it generalized use for the head of any totalitarian and/or abusive regime, as a synonym for despot, dictator or tyrant (all three in the modern, derogatory sense, contrary to a rather lofty historical origin), also at a sub-state level, or even a big boss in private life. Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An autocrat is generally speaking any ruler with absolute power; the term is now usually used in a negative sense (cf. ... Despotism is government by a singular authority, either a single person or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute power. ... Dictator was the title of a magistrate in ancient Rome appointed by the Senate to rule the state in times of emergency. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• The term is also used to describe an ambassador performing negotiations on behalf of a large group. (States are often styled powers, in diplomatic language even if politically and militarily weak).