matador

American  

[mat-uh-dawr] / ˈmæt əˌdɔr /

noun

matadors plural

1. the principal bullfighter in a bullfight who passes the bull with a muleta and then, in many countries, kills it with a sword thrust; a torero.

2. one of the principal cards in skat and certain other games.

3. (initial capital letter) a jet-powered U.S. surface-to-surface missile.

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matador British  

/ ˈmætədɔː /

noun

1. the principal bullfighter who is appointed to kill the bull

2. (in some card games such as skat) one of the highest ranking cards

3. a game played with dominoes in which the dots on adjacent halves must total seven

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• matadors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of matador

1665–75; < Spanish, equivalent to mata ( r ) to kill (perhaps < Vulgar Latin *mattāre, presumed derivative of Late Latin mattus soft, weak; cf. matte ¹) +- dor -tor

Compare meaning

How does matador compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• toreador vs. matador

Example Sentences

This relentless bull market may finally have found its matador.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The ghost of young matador Pedro Romero, the quiet center of Jake’s storm, waits on the bullring sand.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

We will see a Charlo that will attempt to use his speed, and move in and out and try to keep Álvarez at distance — a matador trying to keep the Mexican bull at bay.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2023

Flamboyant ticks and leaves like a matador goading a bull.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023

When it finally came time to leave, Madame Babushkinov swirled her fur cape to and fro like a matador to coax her three older children to the door.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood