noun
desperado
dehs-puh-RAH-doh
Desperado (noun) means a bold, reckless outlaw or criminal, especially one associated with the American Old West. Example: “The film follows a gang of desperados fleeing across the desert.”
noun
1
A bold, reckless outlaw or criminal, especially one associated with the American Old West.
"Surely this was the face of a desperado."
— Willa Cather, My Antonia (1918)
"The film follows a gang of desperados fleeing across the desert."
How to use desperado
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerous, reckless outlaw, often pictured as a Wild West gunslinger.
When to use it
Mostly used in a colourful, storytelling sense rather than in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- desperadoes, desperados
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film follows a gang of _____ fleeing across the desert.
Etymology
From an old Spanish spelling of desesperado, "desperate," ultimately from Latin desperare, "to despair." A doublet of "desperate."
Synonyms
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desperate criminal
Rhymes for desperado
See all rhymes for desperado →Frequently asked questions
What does “desperado” mean?
The word “desperado” means a bold, reckless outlaw or criminal, especially one associated with the American Old West. In plain terms, a dangerous, reckless outlaw, often pictured as a Wild West gunslinger.
How do you pronounce “desperado”?
“Desperado” is pronounced dehs-puh-RAH-doh (/dɛspəˈɹɑːdəʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “desperado” in a sentence?
Here is “desperado” used in a sentence: “The film follows a gang of desperados fleeing across the desert.”
What part of speech is “desperado”?
“Desperado” is a noun.
Where does the word “desperado” come from?
The word “desperado” comes from Latin. From an old Spanish spelling of desesperado, "desperate," ultimately from Latin desperare, "to despair." A doublet of "desperate.".
