warlord

noun

war·​lord ˈwȯr-ˌlȯrd How to pronounce warlord (audio)
1
: a supreme military leader
2
: a military commander exercising civil power by force usually in a limited area
warlordism noun

Examples of warlord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Liberian former warlord and senator whose brutal tactics shocked the world. Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024 Players can use their warlords as their in-game profile pictures. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024 Here’s a population of wicked beings, created by Morgoth (again: Satan) and in service of a warlord set on conquering the world and subjecting all its people. Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024 Swiss zoologists, botanists, engineers, priests and nuns from missionary societies, merchants and rentier businesspeople, warlords and mercenaries ventured out to participate in plunder and looting as adjuncts or sidekicks of the stronger world powers and financiers. Percy Zvomuya, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for warlord 

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of warlord was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near warlord

Cite this Entry

“Warlord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warlord. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

warlord

noun
1
: an important military leader
2
: a military leader who governs an area by force

More from Merriam-Webster on warlord

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!