condottiere

noun

con·​dot·​tie·​re ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē 

ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-

plural condottieri ˌkän-də-ˈtyer-ē 

ˌkän-ˌdä-tē-ˈer-

1

: a leader of a band of mercenaries common in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries

also : a member of such a band

2

: a mercenary soldier

Examples of condottiere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prigozhin became the condottiere of his own private army, funded by the state. —Time, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian condottiero, condottiere, from condotta "command, contract between the commander of a mercenary company and a prince or commune, company of mercenary soldiers" (noun derivative from feminine of condotto, past participle of condurre "to lead, direct," going back to Latin condūcere "to bring together, join, hire") + -iero, -iere, agent suffix (borrowed from Middle French -ier -ier) — more at conduce

Note: On the change of sense shown by the Romance descendants of Latin condūcere see note at conduce.

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1