condottiere

noun

con·​dot·​tie·​re ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē 

ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-ē

plural condottieri ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē 

ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-ē

1

: a leader of a band of mercenaries common in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries

also : a member of such a band

2

: a mercenary soldier

Examples of condottiere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prigozhin became the condottiere of his own private army, funded by the state. — Time, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian condottiero, condottiere, from condotta "command, contract between the commander of a mercenary company and a prince or commune, company of mercenary soldiers" (noun derivative from feminine of condotto, past participle of condurre "to lead, direct," going back to Latin condūcere "to bring together, join, hire") + -iero, -iere, agent suffix (borrowed from Middle French -ier -ier) — more at conduce

Note: On the change of sense shown by the Romance descendants of Latin condūcere see note at conduce.

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1