caudillo

American  

[kaw-deel-yoh, -dee-oh, kou-thee-lyaw, -thee-yaw] / kɔˈdil yoʊ, -ˈdi oʊ, kaʊˈði lyɔ, -ˈði yɔ /

noun

plural

caudillos

1. (in Spanish-speaking countries) a head of state, especially a military dictator.

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caudillo British  

/ kɔːˈdiːljəʊ, kauˈðiʎo /

noun

1. (in Spanish-speaking countries) a military or political leader

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Etymology

Origin of caudillo

1850–55; < Spanish < Late Latin capitellum, equivalent to Latin capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ellum diminutive suffix; -elle

Example Sentences

He’s living up to a realpolitik maxim attributed to various Latin American caudillos: For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law.

From Los Angeles Times

Many countries fell under the domination of caudillos, or strongmen whose power stemmed from financial control of the land’s resources.

From Barron's

Many countries fell under the domination of caudillos, or strongmen whose power stemmed from financial control of the land’s resources.

From Barron's

“I do not aspire to be a ‘moral leader,’ a ‘maximum boss,’ a ‘caudillo,’” he said Monday.

From Seattle Times

One could imagine a whole constellation of caudillo narratives, in which Vargas Llosa presented the Cold War history of Latin America as a single vast web of conspiracies and assassinations.

From New York Times