conquistador

noun

con·​quis·​ta·​dor kän-ˈkē-stə-ˌdȯr 

kən-,

 also  -ˈkwi-,

-ˈki-

plural conquistadores (ˌ)kän-ˌkē-stə-ˈdȯr-ēz 

-ˈdȯr-ˌās,

kən-;

(ˌ)kän-ˌkwi-,

-ˌki-

or conquistadors

: one that conquers

specifically : a leader in the Spanish conquest of America and especially of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century

Examples of conquistador in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How Poinsettias Became a Christmas Flower When conquistador Hernan Cortes showed up in the early 16th Century, the story of these red flowers gets more complex. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2024

Just as the Spanish conquistadors did in reality, Binet’s fictional Incas form alliances with conquered, restive populations. —Sam Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021

Archaeologists think the battle may have started so quickly that the Spanish conquistadors didn’t have time to fire the 3.5-foot-long cannon. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024

Now, though, many sectors in the FTSE 100 are coming up roses, even though it cannot be clearly seen in the chart because the market is awash with non-U.K. conquistadors sweeping in and asset stripping the U.K. market because of its fundamental cheapness. —Clem Chambers, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, ultimately from Latin conquirere — see conquer

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

conquistador

noun

con·​quis·​ta·​dor kȯŋ-ˈkēs-tə-ˌdȯ(ə)r 

kän-ˈk(w)is-,

kən-

plural conquistadores kȯŋ-ˌkēs-tə-ˈdȯr-ēz 

-ˈdȯr-ˌās;

-ˈdōr-;

kän-k(w)is-,

ˈkən-

or conquistadors

: a leader in the Spanish conquest of America in the 16th century

Etymology

Spanish, derived from Latin conquirere "to search for"