lord

1 of 2

noun

ˈlȯrd 

1

: one having power and authority over others:

a

: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due

b

: one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure

c

: an owner of land or other real (see real entry 1 sense 2) property

d

obsolete : the male head of a household

e

: husband

f

: one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area

a drug lord

2

capitalized

a

: god sense 1

b

: jesus

3

: a man of rank or high position: such as

a

: a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king

b

: a British nobleman: such as

(1)

: baron sense 2a

(2)

: a hereditary peer of the rank of marquess, earl, or viscount

(3)

: the son of a duke or a marquess or the eldest son of an earl

(4)

: a bishop of the Church of England

c

Lords plural : house of lords

4

—used as a British title: such as

a

—used as part of an official title

Lord Advocate

Lord Mayor

b

—used informally in place of the full title for a marquess, earl, or viscount

c

—used for a baron

d

—used by courtesy before the name and surname of a younger son of a duke or a marquess

5

: a person chosen to preside over a festival

lord

2 of 2

verb

lorded; lording; lords

intransitive verb

: to act like a lord

especially : to put on airs

—usually used with it

lords it over his friends

Synonyms

Noun

• baron
• captain
• czar
• tsar
• tzar
• king
• lion
• magnate
• mogul
• monarch
• Napoleon
• prince
• tycoon

Verb

• condescend
• patronize
• talk down (to)

Examples of lord in a Sentence

Noun

He became a lord upon the death of his father.

as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property

Verb

waiters at that fancy restaurant like to lord it over the customers, acting like they're doing them a favor just being there

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This comes after the project’s bank account is wiped clean by a thief, leading to an onslaught of negotiations with famous actors, drug lords, and death. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 May 2025

Ovidio Guzmán López, one of four sons of the infamous Mexican crime lord known as El Chapo, plans to plead guilty this summer to sprawling federal drug charges, according to court papers filed on Tuesday. —Alan Feuer, New York Times, 7 May 2025

Verb

The fantasy series about a cosmic entity who lords over the domain of dreams will have a split second season, with the 6-episode Volume 1 premiering on July 3 and the 5-episode Volume 2 premiering on July 24. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025

The Palace lorded over Warsaw like a prison guard until the Poles shook off the shackles of communism in 1989. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English loverd, lord, from Old English hlāford, from hlāf loaf + weard keeper — more at loaf, ward

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lord

• (as) drunk as a lord
• lord chancellor
• lord it over
• lord of misrule
• mesne lord

Rhymes for lord

• board
• bored
• chord
• cord
• corde
• cored
• fjord
• floored
• gored
• gourd
• hoard
• horde

Kids Definition

lord

1 of 2 noun

ˈlȯ(ə)rd 

1

a

: a person who has power and authority

especially : a ruler to whom service and obedience are due

b

: a person from whom a feudal estate is held

2

capitalized

a

: god sense 1

b

: jesus

3

: a man of rank or high position: as

a

: a feudal tenant holding his estate directly from the king

b

: a British nobleman or a bishop entitled to sit in the House of Lords

—used as a title

c

plural capitalized : house of lords

lord

2 of 2 verb

: to act as if having the rank or power of a lord : domineer

—used with it

lording it over her younger brothers

Etymology

Noun

Old English hlāford "lord," literally, "bread keeper," from hlāf "loaf of bread" and weard "keeper, guard" — related to lady, loaf see Word History at lady

Word Origin

The word lord comes from the Old English word hlāford. This word was formed from the words hlāf, meaning "loaf of bread," and weard, meaning "keeper, guard." This "bread keeper," however, actually had no more to do with bread than our modern "breadwinner." The hlāford was much more important than his title suggests. He was the head of a great household and had power and authority over many people. The related word lady developed in much the same way.