viceroy

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noun vice·roy \ ˈvīs-ˌrȯi \

Definition of viceroy

1 :the governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of a king or sovereign

2 or viceroy butterfly :a showy North American nymphalid butterfly (Limenitis archippus) closely mimicking the monarch in coloration but smaller

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Recent Examples of viceroy from the Web

The world is sliding in a strange direction when a Prince wishes to become a viceroy.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Are Mercenaries Really a Cheaper Way of War?," 9 Aug. 2017
Six bronze reliefs depict a massacre, the worst in Ethiopian history, carried out by Italian forces during the occupation of 1936-41 while Graziani was viceroy of Italy’s new colony.

— The Economist, "Italy and the Addis Ababa massacre," 20 July 2017
A viceroy, working to secure Afghanistan’s resources, threatens to do just this.

— deborah avant, Washington Post, "Private military contractors aren’t going to do a better job in Afghanistan. Here’s why.," 12 July 2017
In these special hideaways, guests can live like royals (if only for a night or two) and explore secret passageways, relax in private gardens, or stare out at vistas once reserved for the pope, the viceroy of Egypt, or Louis XV.

— michaela trimble, Vogue, "9 Grand European Mansions Where You Can Spend the Night," 30 June 2017
The following year, Louis Mountbatten was made the last British viceroy of India to administer India’s independence.

— adrian higgins, Washington Post, "Patricia Knatchbull, prince’s cousin injured in 1979 IRA bomb attack, dies at 93," 17 June 2017
She was born without a formal title, the elder daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Britain’s onetime First Sea Lord and its last imperial viceroy in India, and a prominent heiress of the day, Edwina Ashley.

— alan cowell, New York Times, "Patricia Knatchbull, a Grande Dame of Britain’s Elite, Dies at 93," 14 June 2017
Viceroy will also be hitting the festival circuit this year with stops at Electric Forest this month and Life is Beautiful in September.

— bryan kress, Billboard, "Viceroy and Tom Aspaul 'Improvise' on New Genre-Bending Single : Exclusive," 8 June 2017
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Visualization is the viceroy of victory.

— jeraldine saunders, The Mercury News, "Horoscopes: May 9, 2017," 9 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'viceroy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of viceroy

Middle French vice-roi, from vice- + roi king, from Old French rei, roi, from Latin reg-, rex

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First Known Use: 1524

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

VICEROY Defined for English Language Learners

viceroy

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noun

Definition of viceroy for English Language Learners

: a person sent by a king or queen to rule a colony in the past

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See words that rhyme with viceroy Spanish Central: Translation of viceroy Nglish: Translation of viceroy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of viceroy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about viceroy

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