El Dorado
noun
Did you know?
In the early 1500s, Spanish conquistadores heard tales of an Amazonian king who regularly coated his body with gold dust, then plunged into a nearby lake to wash it off while being showered with gold and jewels thrown by his subjects. The Spaniards called the city ruled by this flamboyant monarch El Dorado, Spanish for "gilded one," and the story of the gold-covered king eventually grew into a legend of a whole country paved with gold. These days, El Dorado can also used generically for any place of vast riches, abundance, or opportunity. It is also the name of actual cities in Arkansas and Kansas.
Examples of El Dorado in a Sentence
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Public restrooms are available at multiple parks in El Dorado County.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Scape Park has exciting outdoor activities and points of interests to explore, such as zip lines, cenotes, and caverns, while El Dorado Water Park is the epitome of aquatic fun with more than 20 attractions, from high-speed slides to a relaxing wave pool, ideal for the whole family.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Those planning to attend events in Hot Springs and El Dorado are encouraged to register at arkansastv.gov/events; those planning to attend the Hope and Helena events should contact the libraries.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for El Dorado
Cite this Entry
“El Dorado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/El%20Dorado. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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