overlord

noun

over·​lord ˈō-vər-ˌlȯrd 

1

: a lord over other lords : a lord paramount

2

a

: an absolute or supreme ruler

b

: one having great power or authority

a corporate overlord

overlordship

ˈō-vər-ˌlȯrd-ˌship 

ˌō-vər-ˈlȯrd-

noun

Examples of overlord in a Sentence

He is the overlord of the underground gambling industry.

Recent Examples on the Web

The word captured the growing frustration with internet subservience and AI overlords. —Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025

The interests of humanity are best served by cooperation, not a policy of antagonism that seeks to slice up the world into unhappy spheres of interest, dominated by modern-day colonial overlords. —Gustavo Petro, Time, 9 Nov. 2025

This is pop-overlord territory; recently, the trophy has gone to engineers behind Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chappell Roan albums. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025

Ignore that muffled screaming in the distance, that’s just the TV overlords punching air. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overlord

• checkerboard
• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overboard
• paperboard
• plasterboard
• shuffleboard

Kids Definition

overlord

noun

over·​lord ˈō-vər-ˌlȯ(ə)rd 

1

: a lord who rules over other lords

2

: an absolute or supreme ruler