Home › Words › P › polemarchpolemarch/ˈpɑləˌmɑɹk/polemarch means the military commander in chief in Athens, one of the nine archonts.polemarch is pronounced /ˈpɑləˌmɑɹk/.EtymologyFrom Latin polemarchus, from Ancient Greek πολέμαρχος (polémarkhos). By surface analysis, polem- + -arch.nounThe military commander in chief in Athens, one of the nine archonts.A civil magistrate in Athens who had jurisdiction in respect of strangers and sojourners.In other Greek (city) states, a high military and civil officer.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).