1
: a native Indian chief in areas dominated primarily by a Spanish culture
2
: a local political boss in Spain and Latin America
Examples of cacique in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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The Economist, 11 July 2020
This angered a cacique (local boss), who thought the mayor was muscling in on his turf.
—The Economist, 5 May 2018
Pedro Páramo, the main character of the novel and the unmet father of its narrator, Juan Preciado, is a cacique (boss), who by violence and threat appropriates all the land in the fictional town of Comala, along with many of its women.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
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
The Economist, 11 July 2020
This angered a cacique (local boss), who thought the mayor was muscling in on his turf.
—The Economist, 5 May 2018
Pedro Páramo, the main character of the novel and the unmet father of its narrator, Juan Preciado, is a cacique (boss), who by violence and threat appropriates all the land in the fictional town of Comala, along with many of its women.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cacique.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, from Taino, chief
First Known Use
1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near cacique
Cite this Entry
“Cacique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacique. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on cacique
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cacique
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