the act or state of conquering or the state of being conquered; vanquishment.
the winning of favor, affection, love, etc..
the conquest of Antony by Cleopatra.
a person whose favor, affection, etc., has been won.
He's another one of her conquests.
anything acquired by conquering, as a nation, a territory, or spoils.
the Conquest. Norman Conquest.
the act or an instance of conquering or the state of having been conquered; victory
a person, thing, etc, that has been conquered or won
the act or art of gaining a person's compliance, love, etc, by seduction or force of personality
a person, whose compliance, love, etc, has been won over by seduction or force of personality
See Norman Conquest
the conquest by the United Kingdom of French North America, ending in 1763
See victory.
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English conqueste, from Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin conquēsta (for Latin conquīsīta, feminine past participle of conquīrere ). See con-, quest
Alexander the Great's famous conquest of the Persian Empire was an act of conquering. For Casanova, on the other hand, a conquest was an act of seduction. Conquest derives from the Vulgar Latin word conquaerere, meaning "to search for, procure by effort, or win." In addition to its most commonly used meanings — conquering and seduction — conquest has a third, less well-known meaning: a success in mastering something difficult, like the violin, for instance, or flying an airplane.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The goals of American foreign policy tend to extend beyond the defense of territory, the conquest or defeat of others, or the gaining of political or economic advantage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
Before we do a “House of the Dragon” flyby to examine its place in high fantasy’s conquest of TV and film, let’s talk about Sheepstealer.
From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026
The comet became one of the most famous symbols associated with the year 1066 and even appears in the Bayeux Tapestry, the medieval artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
The Koh-i-Noor, meaning "Mountain of Light" in Persian, has been the subject of conquest and intrigue for centuries, passing through the hands of Mughal princes, Iranian warriors, Afghan rulers and Punjabi Maharajas.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Is it necessary to spell out that societies mired in fratricidal chaos are vulnerable to conquest?
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
