warrior

noun

war·​rior
ˈwȯr-yər, 
ˈwȯr-ē-ər How to pronounce warrior (audio)
ˈwär-ē-
also ˈwär-yər
Synonyms of warriornext
often attributive
: a person engaged or experienced in warfare
broadly : a person engaged in some struggle or conflict
poverty warriors

Examples of warrior in a Sentence

a proud and brave warrior a program of tough training and discipline that turns untried civilians into warriors
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With a roster of A-list session warriors, including drummers Matt Chamberlain and Jay Bellerose, their backing band and orchestra lend a grandeur to the LP that finally matched their aesthetic ambitions and gothic lore. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Not that many people are in for it – there are keyboard warriors who love to act out online, but to actually show up is a totally different thing. — Justin Levitt, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 Much of what later became known as Bushido, the way of the warrior, was also developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Having conquered the world’s top stages as Wagner’s warrior goddess, the American soprano returns to New World Symphony with selections from Götterdämmerung. — Mike Hamersly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for warrior

Word History

Etymology

Middle English werreour, from Anglo-French *werreier, guerreier, from warreier, guerreier to wage war, from werre war — more at war

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of warrior was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Warrior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warrior. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

warrior

noun
war·​rior ˈwȯr-yər How to pronounce warrior (audio)
ˈwȯr-ē-ər, 
ˈwär-ē-
: a person who is or has been in warfare
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster