Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

drug lord

American  
[druhg lawrd] / ˈdrʌg ˌlɔrd /

noun

drug lords plural
  1. the head of an organization or network involved in illegal drug trafficking.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of drug lord

First recorded in 1970–75

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:

President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the country's security plan less than two weeks after an explosion of violence in Guadalajara, and other parts of the country, triggered by the death of a notorious drug lord.

From Barron's Mar. 6, 2026

Karla Sofía Gascón — who plays the titular macho drug lord turned vivacious woman — is the first openly trans person nominated in any Oscar acting category.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 23, 2025

She has since told the Sunday Times that she felt like she was being treated like the former Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, after her bank accounts were frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

From BBC Jan. 26, 2024

Suárez was also in charge of the Metastasis case involving an Ecuadorian drug lord who allegedly received favorable treatment from judges, prosecutors, police officers and high officials.

From Seattle Times Jan. 17, 2024

Animal sanctuary facilities in India and Mexico have agreed to take in 70 invasive African hippopotamuses that descend from those once owned by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

From Washington Times Mar. 2, 2023

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training