noun
overlord
OH-vuh-lawd
Overlord (noun) means a ruler who holds power over other rulers or lower authorities. Example: “The regional kings paid tribute to their overlord.”
noun
1
A ruler who holds power over other rulers or lower authorities.
"The regional kings paid tribute to their overlord."
"The various tribal chieftains met each spring to elect an overlord that would lead them in time of war."
2
Anyone who wields sweeping power or control over a particular domain.
"The crusty old professor was overlord of the history department, and few dared to cross his will."
"“It’s not like young authors need to worry about being supplanted now,” Ms. Williams said. “It’s a worry. But it’s got a ways to go, at least. They haven’t become our overlords yet.”"
— Michael Levenson, Science Fiction Magazines Battle a Flood of Chatbot-Generated Stories (2023)
"He joked about being the office snack overlord."
How to use overlord
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA supreme ruler or controller — used seriously in history and jokingly in everyday speech.
Common pairings
feudal overlord
evil overlord
tech overlord
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Word forms
- Plural
- overlords
- Third person singular
- overlords
- Past tense
- overlorded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The regional kings paid tribute to their _____.
Etymology
From Middle English variants like oferrlaferrd, built from over- + lord.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “overlord” mean?
The word “overlord” means a ruler who holds power over other rulers or lower authorities. In plain terms, a supreme ruler or controller — used seriously in history and jokingly in everyday speech.
How do you pronounce “overlord”?
“Overlord” is pronounced OH-vuh-lawd (/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)lɔː(ɹ)d/ in IPA).
How do you use “overlord” in a sentence?
Here is “overlord” used in a sentence: “The regional kings paid tribute to their overlord.”
What part of speech is “overlord”?
“Overlord” is a noun.
Where does the word “overlord” come from?
The word “overlord” comes from Middle English. From Middle English variants like oferrlaferrd, built from over- + lord.
How many meanings does “overlord” have?
“Overlord” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a ruler who holds power over other rulers or lower authorities.
