1
: an Indigenous chief in areas dominated primarily by a Spanish culture
2
: a local political boss in Spain and Latin America
ca·ciqu·ism
kə-ˈsē-ˌki-zəm 
plural -s
: domination by caciques
economic and administrative caciquism—
C. A. Buss
C. A. BussExamples of cacique in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
The son of a cacique (chief) from the Vale do Javari, an indigenous territory in the Brazilian Amazon larger than Austria, he was converted by a missionary from another ethnic group and became a pastor himself.
—The Economist, 11 July 2020
The arrogance (and stupidity) of the bishops, the nearness of the church with caciques, narcos and all kinds of harmful people and, above all, the silence of the Catholic hierarchy regarding child abuse.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2016
Their regional chieftaincies, each headed by a leader known as a cacique, crumbled away.
—Robert M. Poole, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2011
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Noun
Chiefs or caciques held godlike powers and could order laborers to cultivate land or serve in military encounters.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
The son of a cacique (chief) from the Vale do Javari, an indigenous territory in the Brazilian Amazon larger than Austria, he was converted by a missionary from another ethnic group and became a pastor himself.
—The Economist, 11 July 2020
The arrogance (and stupidity) of the bishops, the nearness of the church with caciques, narcos and all kinds of harmful people and, above all, the silence of the Catholic hierarchy regarding child abuse.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2016
Their regional chieftaincies, each headed by a leader known as a cacique, crumbled away.
—Robert M. Poole, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Cacique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacique. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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