conqueror
noun
a person who conquers or vanquishes; victor.
conqueror
American
[kong-ker-er]
/ ˈkɒŋ kər ər /
noun
-
conquerors
plural
Conqueror
British
/ ˈkɒŋkərə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of conqueror
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English conquerour, from Anglo-French; Old French conquereor, from conquer(re) “to conquer” ( see conquer) + -eor, from either Latin -or -or 1 or -ātor -ator
Explanation
A conqueror takes over a place by using military force. If you enjoy role-playing video games, you might like taking on the persona of a conqueror who battles evil orcs in order to rule their territory. Generally, conqueror is used to mean the winner of a war or the leader of a vanquishing army. You can also use it in a figurative way for someone who wins or defeats others in a game or sport: "My conqueror in the chess match was that tiny ten-year-old kid." The Latin root of both conqueror and conquer is conquirere, "to win or procure by effort."
Vocabulary lists containing conqueror
Chinese History - Introductory
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Chinese History - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This earned Agrippa the gratitude of his friend’s great-uncle, Julius Caesar, the conqueror of Gaul and dictator of Rome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Historically, Joan was a conqueror romantically also, not just Bob.
From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2024
Chris Hemsworth, in one of the most colorful and transformative performances of his career, plays the villain Dementus with the flair of a deranged Roman conqueror.
From Seattle Times ● May 15, 2024
Van Gerwen's conqueror Suljovic will play Dave Chisnall, while world number one Humphries has been drawn to play Benjamin Reus of Denmark.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2024
Covered with blushes, I hid my volume, but they knew it was there, this artifact of the conqueror.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
The 11th-century work, which depicts the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror, arrived in London in July for a sell-out showcase that runs until July 2027.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Battle of Hastings, fought on 14 October 1066 on the Sussex coast, saw William the Conqueror defeat King Harold and seize the English throne.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
His descendants revere Aegon the Conqueror so highly that he has numerous prominent namesakes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
For Norton, who is also currently starring in BBC's historical drama King & Conqueror, to be compared to such successful shows is a positive.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
And with that, High John the Conqueror soared into the sky on his giant crow, hooting and hollering as he cut through smoke and flame to confront the swarm of brand flies racing toward us.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
The ancient world had many kings and conquerors, but there was no one like Alexander the Great.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
He even hailed Britain's role in colonizing North America -- a controversial subject given the atrocities against native people by waves of European conquerors who crossed the Atlantic.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
Grimsby Town, the only League Two side still standing and conquerors of Manchester United, get another home tie against Premier League Brentford.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
Theirs is the other grand story from would-be California conquerors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
If an enemy sovereign was slain, as apparently happened in Mutal, the conquerors often didn’t emplace a new one; kings were divine, and thus by definition irreplaceable.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
