warlord
Americannoun
-
a military leader, especially of a warlike nation.
-
a military commander who has seized power, especially in one section of a country.
noun
Other Word Forms
- warlordism noun
Etymology
Origin of warlord
Explanation
An aggressive military commander with extremely loyal forces is sometimes called a warlord. Warlords usually control a small territory within a country. According to political scientists, warlords tend to gain power following the fall of a large empire and the rise of small, weak states in its place. The main thing distinguishing warlords from other types of rulers is that they have loyal followers who are well armed and obedient to the individual warlord rather than the actual government. The term warlord dates from the 1850s, but it wasn't common until the 1920s.
Vocabulary lists containing warlord
Africa - Middle School
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Africa - High School
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The Middle East and Central Asia - Introductory
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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.
The region is replete with dissidents loyal to warlord Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernandez -- better known as Ivan Mordisco, Colombia's most wanted guerrilla.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
In 2016, he struck a deal with a Karen warlord Saw Chit Thu, who controls territory in Myanmar along the Moei River, to build a new city together.
From BBC • Feb. 6, 2025
“I’m beyond honored to be here with amazing nominees,” said Sanada, who portrayed the quietly ambitious warlord Yoshii Toranaga, as he accepted the lead drama actor award.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2024
Mr. Prigozhin, a caterer turned warlord who grew rich on state contracts, was an unlikely messenger.
From New York Times • May 26, 2024
In one warren, the Owsla may be the band of a warlord: in another, it may consist largely of clever patrollers or garden-raiders.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
