warrior
Americannoun
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a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier.
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a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics.
noun
Other Word Forms
- warriorlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of warrior
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English werreieor, from Old North French; equivalent to war 1 + -or 2
Compare meaning
How does warrior compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Although logically linked with someone engaged in war, a warrior can be anyone who fights the good fight, whether in politics, on the job, or just as a "weekend warrior" trying to accomplish multiple tasks during off-hours at home. As the Old French guerre meant "war," it led to the word guerreor for someone who wages war. This eventually morphed into the word we know as warrior. The word can also refer to someone fighting a philosophical or political war. Author Carlos Castandeda said, "Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other.” After ridding the kitchen of ants, you felt like a proud warrior.
Vocabulary lists containing warrior
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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.
Dark Helmet’s look appears to be updated for the times, as his mask resembles that worn by the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy’s Dark Side warrior Kylo Ren.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
This description encapsulates the real warrior ethos: Humble, quiet, just doing a job.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
This process led to the emergence of what researchers describe as "warrior" types in early wheat varieties.
From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026
Main character Kliff is a member of the Greymanes, a warrior clan whose members are dispersed around the continent by the rival Black Bears.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
But right now, I am not a warrior, not a monk, not a servant, and not yet free.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
