overlord

noun

over·​lord ˈō-vər-ˌlȯrd How to pronounce overlord (audio)
1
: a lord over other lords : a lord paramount
2
a
: an absolute or supreme ruler
b
: one having great power or authority
a corporate overlord
overlordship
ˈō-vər-ˌlȯrd-ˌship How to pronounce overlord (audio)
ˌō-vər-ˈlȯrd-
noun

Examples of overlord in a Sentence

He is the overlord of the underground gambling industry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Growing up watching those movies and reading comics and science fiction, the idea of robot overlords enslaving humanity was always close at hand. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024 Léa Seydoux, The Beast In Bertrand Bonello’s softly devastating sci-fi romance, Léa Seydoux plays a futuristic lab employee in a world where AI overlords urge humans to purge their DNA of all imperfections by revisiting their past lives and eliminating strong emotions. Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024 After Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski went on their show and welcomed our new insect overlords? Keith Olbermann, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024 In the nineteenth century, as the cost of its independence, Haiti had to pay France—its erstwhile colonial overlord—reparations. Martín Abregú, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overlord 

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overlord was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near overlord

Cite this Entry

“Overlord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlord. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

overlord

noun
over·​lord ˈō-vər-ˌlȯ(ə)rd How to pronounce overlord (audio)
1
: a lord who rules over other lords
2
: an absolute or supreme ruler

More from Merriam-Webster on overlord

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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