Cortes

¹ American  

[kawr-tiz, kawr-tes] / ˈkɔr tɪz, ˈkɔr tɛs /

noun

1. (in Spain or Portugal) the two houses constituting the national legislative body.

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Cortés ² American  

[kawr-tez, kawr-tes] / kɔrˈtɛz, kɔrˈtɛs /

Or Cortez

noun

1. Hernando Hernán 1485–1547, Spanish conqueror of Mexico.

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Cortes ¹ British  

/ ˈkortes, ˈkɔːtɛz /

noun

1. the national assembly of Spain and (until 1910) Portugal

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Cortés ² British  

/ kɔːˈtɛz, ˈkɔːtɛz, korˈtes /

noun

1. Hernando (ɛrˈnando) or Hernán (ɛrˈnan). 1485–1547, Spanish conquistador: defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico (1523)

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Etymology

Origin of Cortes

1660–70; < Spanish, plural of corte court

Example Sentences

Susan Cortes, 24, said that while she has never heard of private investments, she is open to learning about them someday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

Whenever she pushed back, she claimed, Marquez Cortes warned that she’d lose her chance at citizenship.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2025

Others credit Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, who got a taste of chocolate after being served Xocolatl by Montezuma himself.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2025

Adding Fried emboldened Cashman to deal left-handed starter Nestor Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers for elite closer Devin Williams.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

Two years after writing these words, Cortes utterly destroyed Tenochtitlan along with the rest of the Aztec civilization.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan