stadtholder

noun

stadt·​hold·​er ˈstat-ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce stadtholder (audio)
1
: a viceroy in a province of the Netherlands
2
: a chief executive officer of the provinces that formed a union leading to establishment of the Netherlands
stadtholderate noun
stadtholdership noun

Examples of stadtholder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Both eventually appointed William as stadtholder—steward or governor—making him, in effect, the leader of the republic. Allan Massie, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of Dutch stadhouder, from stad place + houder holder

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stadtholder was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near stadtholder

Cite this Entry

“Stadtholder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stadtholder. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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