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

Comeback stories have been heralded and our AI robot overlords have been held at bay — for now. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025

Add to that, a cunning House Speaker (Modine), tech overlords, Wall Street power brokers, and some White House secrets from Mullen’s single term in office. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025

But other scenes, like one set in 2076, when the last humans live as outlaws in a dystopia of semi-robot overlords, feel more like place fillers, necessary as steps in Harrison’s timeline but not compelling in themselves. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025

So what is this mystery silo and are there overlords living inside it? —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 13 Jan. 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