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
Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office announced the identities of the eight individuals on Tuesday, June 24, including DoorDash executive Joshua Pickles.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 25 June 2025
The Coast Guard and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 3 p.m. Saturday, after someone had reported 10 people in the water, which had become dangerously cold and choppy.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Only two passengers were rescued and taken to local hospitals for treatment, prompting search and recovery efforts for the remaining eight, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 June 2025
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 2 Jul. 2025.
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