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

• tycoon
• magnate
• king
• prince
• baron
• czar

Verb

• patronize
• cut
• queen (it over)
• 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

The footage jumped between a struggling local township and its wealthy local lords, both equally besieged by epidemics of disease. —Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 June 2025

But before you were born, corridos were about Pancho Villa — not drug lords. —Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2025

Verb

Visitors will find something a bit more impressive at the nearly 253-foot granite Pilgrim Monument that lords over Provincetown. —Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025

All six men either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of racketeering and murder, crimes that prosecutors say were committed to benefit the sophisticated prison gang that lords over white inmates across the California prison system. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 May 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.