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

Everyone from rappers who’d just as soon persist as a hail of singles, like Playboi Carti and Cardi B, to pop overlords like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter came to the plate. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

In the absence of her evil overlords, does Glinda live up to the task Elphaba entrusts her with? —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Nov. 2025

Instead, former Cabinet Secretaries and corporate overlords mingled with now-grey former junior Bush White House aides. —Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025

Metro, Greater Cincinnati's transit agency, has lots of overlords. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Nov. 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