A king is a male ruler who holds the highest position of authority in a kingdom, typically inheriting his power from his father rather than being elected. Throughout history, kings have led nations, commanded armies, made laws, and represented their people. Some kings ruled with absolute power, making every decision themselves, while others shared authority with councils or parliaments.

Different kingdoms had different kinds of kings. Ancient Egypt's pharaohs were considered divine. Medieval European kings claimed to rule by “divine right,” meaning they believed God had chosen them. Some kings were wise and just, like France's Louis IX, who personally heard disputes from citizens under an oak tree. Others were tyrannical, caring more about their own wealth and power than their people's welfare.

The word can also mean the most important or powerful example of something. A lion is often called the king of the jungle (even though lions actually live in grasslands, not jungles). In chess, the king is the most crucial piece: lose your king and you lose the game, even though it's not the most powerful piece on the board. When someone achieves extraordinary success in their field, people might call them a king of that domain.

Many modern nations still have kings, though most now reign ceremonially while elected governments handle actual governing.