Word
warlord
Phoneticswar·lord, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔɹˌɫɔɹd/
UK/wˈɔːlɔːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a powerful leader who controls a specific area using their own private army. This person usually rules by force rather than by law, often in a country where the central government is weak.
n. a military commander who exercises civil and military power over a region, typically due to the absence of a strong central authority. Often implies the use of private militias and a lack of formal legal legitimacy.
Examples
“The local warlord controlled all the trade routes in the province.”
“After the central government collapsed, several warlords began fighting each other for control of the capital city.”
“The peace treaty was difficult to enforce because it required the cooperation of various regional warlords who benefited financially from the ongoing instability.”
Examples
simple
“The local warlord controlled all the trade routes in the province.”
contextual
“After the central government collapsed, several warlords began fighting each other for control of the capital city.”
complex
“The peace treaty was difficult to enforce because it required the cooperation of various regional warlords who benefited financially from the ongoing instability.”
Usage
Often used in political science and history to describe leaders in failed states or during civil wars.
Real-World Examples
“Over the years, there was a rise and fall in these warlord dynasties involving various battles between clan leaders.” “Riek Machar is a man who wears many labels: rebel leader, former vice-president, warlord and now, possibly, peacemaker.” Etymology
From war + lord.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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