Cromwell

American  

[krom-wuhl, -wel, kruhm-] / ˈkrɒm wəl, -wɛl, ˈkrʌm- /

noun

1. Oliver, 1599–1658, English general, Puritan statesman, and Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1653–58.

2. his son Richard, 1626–1712, English soldier, politician, Lord Protector of England 1658–59.

3. Thomas, Earl of Essex, 1485?–1540, English statesman.

4. a town in central Connecticut.

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Cromwell British  

/ ˈkrɒmwəl, krɒmˈwɛlɪən, -wɛl /

noun

1. Oliver. 1599–1658, English general and statesman. A convinced Puritan, he was an effective leader of the parliamentary army in the Civil War. After the execution of Charles I he quelled the Royalists in Scotland and Ireland, and became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth (1653–58)

2. his son, Richard. 1626–1712, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth (1658–59)

3. Thomas ,Earl of Essex. ?1485–1540, English statesman. He was secretary to Cardinal Wolsey (1514), after whose fall he became chief adviser to Henry VIII. He drafted most of the Reformation legislation, securing its passage through parliament, the power of which he thereby greatly enhanced. He was executed after losing Henry's favour

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Other Word Forms

• Cromwellian adjective

Example Sentences

A former law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas, he had worked at Sullivan & Cromwell as the co-leader of its appellate litigation practice before joining the Trump administration in 2017.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

The A4 Cromwell Road, where Redmayne was caught, became a 20mph road in 2023 as part of a Transport for London scheme to reduce speeds across 65km of London's roads.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Mr. Sewell presents Cromwell and Downing as men of similar attitudes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

As a result, Monica Gorman, managing director of Cromwell Global Advisors, says she is looking for whether justices take a similar view or see tariffs as a tax—a power that lies with Congress.

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

From 1649 to 1660, England had no King and was governed by Parliament until 1653 and by Cromwell as Lord Protector from then until his death in 1658.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin