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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"Why Women Always Take Advantage of Men"
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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:
Gilgamesh returns to his kingdom of Uruk not as a conqueror but as a witness: to loss, to limitation, to the fragile beauty of what cannot last.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
But it seems more and more obvious that he's seriously entertaining fantasies of being some sort of world conqueror.
From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2025
Wilson, who faces Selby's conqueror Joe O'Connor next, said he stood a good chance of becoming world champion if he could maintain this form.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2024
The French conqueror never invaded Britain, whereas the makers of “Napoleon” largely never left Britain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2024
This is not caused by the greater or lesser virtue of the conqueror, but rather by the different characteristics of the conquered territories.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
It depicts a medieval game of thrones as William the Conqueror fought King Harold to rule England.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 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
Fans might wonder how the “Fantastic Four” post-credits scene might have played out had the studio not altered its original plans to feature Kang the Conqueror as the franchise’s next big bad.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2025
Majors, who played the enigmatic villain Kang the Conqueror, was lined up to be the main antagonist in the upcoming installments, but the studio had to pivot after letting him go.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025
“Now, before God and this company,” he said, “I do hail thee Conqueror and true son of thy noble father.”
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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
Men who seize this opportunity are not conquered or conquerors.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2024
The goal preserved Leverkusen's incredible unbeaten record since a 3-0 reverse at Bochum on 27 May last year, 328 days ago, and booked a last-four meeting with Brighton's conquerors Roma, who knocked out AC Milan.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2024
In Mexico, they were apparently brought by the Spanish conquerors, but may also replicate pre-Hispanic traditions.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 22, 2023
We’re used to seeing the Egypt of the Ptolemies through the eyes of her eventual conquerors.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
