Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Russian imperial dynasty that ruled from 1613 to 1917: "Romanoff" refers to the royal family, the House of Romanov, which provided the Tsars and Emperors of Russia for over three centuries.
   • A member of this imperial family: "Romanoff" can also denote any individual belonging to this ruling dynasty.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Romanoff dynasty ended with the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. (The imperial family that ruled Russia ended its reign with Tsar Nicholas II giving up the throne.)
  • She claimed to be a descendant of the Romanoffs. (She claimed to be a descendant of members of the Russian imperial family.)

Advanced Usage

• "Romanoff" as an adjective: While primarily a proper noun, it can be used attributively to describe things related to the dynasty.
  • The Romanoff jewels are famous. (The jewels belonging to the Russian imperial family are famous.)

Variants and Related Words

• Romanov: This is the more common and standard transliteration of the Russian name (Рома́нов). "Romanoff" is an alternative, older English spelling.
  • Historians often use the spelling 'Romanov'.

Synonyms

• House of Romanov: The official name of the dynasty.
• Tsarist dynasty: A descriptive term for the ruling family of imperial Russia.

Noun

1. the Russian imperial line that ruled from 1613 to 1917
2. a member of the imperial family that ruled Russia