duce
noun
a leader or dictator.
duce
American
[doo-chay, doo-che]
/ ˈdu tʃeɪ, ˈdu tʃɛ /
noun
-
duces,
plural
-
duci
plural
-
a leader or dictator.
-
il Duce the leader: applied especially to Benito Mussolini as head of the fascist Italian state.
Duce
1
British
/ ˈduːtʃe /
noun
duce
2
British
/ ˈduːtʃɪ, ˈduːtʃe /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of duce
First recorded in 1920–25; from Italian, from Medieval Latin dux (genitive ducis ), Latin: “leader”; cf. duke, dux
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:
The Vietnamese politely took what they were offered, but within twenty-four hours the complaints started coming back—the “American soap … didn’t pro- duce suds or clean properly.”
From MSNBC ● Jan. 9, 2018
A middle-sized man behind heavy black glasses, Dino de Laurentiis, 42, is an unlikely figure for the duce of Italian cinema.
From Time Magazine Archive
Bethlehem can pro duce about 15% of the total, leaving about 42% for independent companies.
From Time Magazine Archive
Union members would have to pro duce more if they expected higher wages.
From Time Magazine Archive
He was a great soldier and a great man, whose life may be summed up in the motto of his house: Deo duce, ferro comite.
From Orrain A Romance by S. Levett-Yeats
The Coppa del Duce, more than 90 years on, comes shaped like a golden ticket.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
And when the Italian Azzurri lifted the trophy in Rome, a second trophy waited for them: the Coppa del Duce, commissioned by Mussolini, six times the size of the real one.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Of four documented assassination attempts on Il Duce, Violet came the closest.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026
Duce went on to appear in an episode of Running Wild, Brooks's next big hit - where he switched channels to ITV for a sitcom about a former Teddy Boy going through a mid-life crisis.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2025
Abbott, better known as Teddy Blue, used to give his address as Three Duce Ranch, Gilt Edge, Montana.
From Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest, with a Few Observations by J. Frank (James Frank) Dobie
She also pro- duces food and spirit events across the country.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2022
In the lead-up to trial, Burr, taking aim at his accusers, moved for a subpoena duces tecum directed at Jefferson.
From Reuters ● Jul. 9, 2020
The subpoena duces tecum is challenged on the ground that the Special Prosecutor failed to satisfy the requirements of Fed.
From MSNBC ● Jul. 22, 2015
We now turn to the important question of the District Court’s responsibilities in conducting the in camera examination of Presidential materials or communications delivered under the compulsion of the subpoena duces tecum.
From MSNBC ● Jul. 22, 2015
The next are duces belli, great leaders in war; such as are princes' lieutenants, and do them notable services in the wars.
From The Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon
A life of innocence was regarded as a life of ill-nature —Innocentia pro malivolentiâ duci caepit.
From Conspiracy of Catiline and the Jurgurthine War by John Selby Watson
In Sicily a thousand endearing epithets are applied to the Infant Saviour: "figghiu duci," "Gesiuzzi beddu," "Gesiuzzi picchiureddi."
From Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs (1886) by Countess Evelyn Martinengo-Cesaresco
In the Latyne stemme of Chawcer you saye, speakinge of Katherine Swyneforde, Que postea nupta Johanni Gandauensi tertij Edwardi Regis filio, Lancastriæ duci, illi procreavit filios tres et vnicam filiam.
From Animaduersions uppon the annotacions and corrections of some imperfections of impressiones of Chaucer's workes 1865 edition by G. H. (George Henry) Kingsley
The gold medal for General Gates represents the head of that general, with this legend: horatio gates, duci strenuo, comitia americana.
From The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart
The gold medal of General Greene represents the head of that general, with this legend: nathanieli green, egregio duci, comitia americana.
From The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart
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