architect

/ˈɑːkɪtekt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːrkɪtekt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈär-kə-ˌtekt/ (ame, mw)

architect — noun

1. someone trained to draw the plans for houses, offices, or other buildings, and t

1.名詞B1
釋義

someone trained to draw the plans for houses, offices, or other buildings, and to check that builders follow those plans on the construction site.

例句

Rashida hired a young architect to draw the plans for her new café in Taipei.

hire + architect for designing a building

The architect spent three months drawing the plans for the new hospital.

architect + draw plans collocation

同義詞
  • designer

    broader — includes graphic, fashion, product designers, not only buildings

  • draftsman

    narrower and older — focuses on drawing technical plans, not the full design role

  • planner

    often refers to urban or city planners working on whole districts, not single buildings

文法句型

the architect of [building/project]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person with formal qualifications; many countries require an architect to be licensed before signing off on plans. Distinguish from sense 2, which is metaphorical and not about buildings.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle is an architecture and built our house.
✅My uncle is an architect and designed our house.
💡'architecture' is the field; 'architect' is the person.
❌The architect built the new library by himself.
✅The architect designed the new library.
💡architects design and supervise; builders do the construction work.

2. the person who first thinks of and shapes an important plan, change, or agreemen

2.名詞B2
釋義

the person who first thinks of and shapes an important plan, change, or agreement, and who guides it until it actually happens — for example, the leader behind a peace deal or a company's new strategy.

例句

Nelson Mandela is often called the architect of modern South Africa.

the architect of [country/era] — historical figure pattern

Ms. Chen was the chief architect of the company's recent move into Southeast Asia.

chief architect of + business strategy

同義詞
  • mastermind

    stronger — suggests one clever brain behind a complex plan, sometimes a crime

  • creator

    broader and more neutral — works for art, products, ideas, not only large plans

  • founder

    narrower — the person who starts an organisation, not a plan or agreement

文法句型

the architect of [plan/agreement/idea]

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'of' plus the plan, agreement, or change. Often appears with positive achievements (peace, reform, victory) but can also describe the person behind a disaster or scandal. Distinguish from sense 1: this is a metaphor — no buildings are involved.

常見錯誤

❌She is the architect for the new policy.
✅She is the architect of the new policy.
💡the fixed preposition is 'of', not 'for'.
❌He architected the agreement.
✅He was the architect of the agreement.
💡in this sense, 'architect' is rarely used as a verb in everyday English.