1
: one having power and authority over others:
a
: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due
b
: one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure
c
: an owner of land or other real (see real entry 1 sense 2) property
d
obsolete
: the male head of a household
e
: husband
f
: one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area
a drug lord
2
3
: a man of rank or high position: such as
a
: a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman: such as
(1)
(3)
: the son of a duke or a marquess or the eldest son of an earl
(4)
: a bishop of the Church of England
c
4
—used as a British title: such as
a
—used as part of an official title
Lord Advocate
Lord Mayor
b
—used informally in place of the full title for a marquess, earl, or viscount
c
—used for a baron
d
—used by courtesy before the name and surname of a younger son of a duke or a marquess
5
: a person chosen to preside over a festival
lorded; lording; lords
: to act like a lord
especially
: to put on airs
—usually used with it
lords it over his friends
Synonyms
Examples of lord in a Sentence
Noun
He became a lord upon the death of his father.
as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property
Verb
waiters at that fancy restaurant like to lord it over the customers, acting like they're doing them a favor just being there
Recent Examples on the Web
Paula Aceves, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Luckily for fans turned on by Shogun to the cunning machinations of feudal Japanese lords, swordsmen, concubines and ladies in waiting, the well of samurai storytelling that inspired Shogun and Clavell’s book is very deep indeed.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
Though Seacrest is now lording over Wheel of Fortune five days a week, fans have not seen the last of longtime host Pat Sajak.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lord 
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.
Noun
But the following musical number, a grand procession through the streets of Mexico City, also functions as a plea to the viewer — to buy in, to accept the film’s idiosyncratic world, one where Rita quickly gets entangled with a drug lord (Karla Sofía Gascón) seeking gender-affirming surgery.
—Paula Aceves, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Luckily for fans turned on by Shogun to the cunning machinations of feudal Japanese lords, swordsmen, concubines and ladies in waiting, the well of samurai storytelling that inspired Shogun and Clavell’s book is very deep indeed.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
In other words, River is a nepo baby, and instead of being discharged, he’s condemned to Slough House, where he and the other bargain-bin MI5 agents are lorded over by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), an ornery but still-brilliant spy in his twilight years.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
Though Seacrest is now lording over Wheel of Fortune five days a week, fans have not seen the last of longtime host Pat Sajak.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lord
Dictionary Entries Near lord
Cite this Entry
“Lord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lord. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lord
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a person who has power and authority
especially
: a ruler to whom service and obedience are due
b
: a person from whom a feudal estate is held
2
3
: a man of rank or high position: as
a
: a feudal tenant holding his estate directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman or a bishop entitled to sit in the House of Lords
—used as a title
c
lord
2 of 2 verb
: to act as if having the rank or power of a lord : domineer
—used with it
lording it over her younger brothers
Etymology
Noun
Old English hlāford "lord," literally, "bread keeper," from hlāf "loaf of bread" and weard "keeper, guard" — related to lady, loaf see Word History at lady
Word Origin
The word lord comes from the Old English word hlāford. This word was formed from the words hlāf, meaning "loaf of bread," and weard, meaning "keeper, guard." This "bread keeper," however, actually had no more to do with bread than our modern "breadwinner." The hlāford was much more important than his title suggests. He was the head of a great household and had power and authority over many people. The related word lady developed in much the same way.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share