Meaning of the word publican in English

What does publican mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

publican

US /ˈpʌb.lɪ.kən/
UK /ˈpʌb.lɪ.kən/

Noun

1.

a person who owns or manages a pub

Example:
The friendly publican served us a pint of ale.
She inherited the pub and became a publican.
2.

(in ancient Rome) a collector of taxes or customs duties

Example:
In biblical times, a publican was often viewed with disdain.
The Roman Empire relied on publicans to collect revenue.