conquistador

noun

con·quis·ta·dor kän-ˈkē-stə-ˌdȯr

kən-

also -ˈkwi-,

-ˈki-

plural conquistadores (ˌ)kän-ˌkē-stə-ˈdȯr-ēz

-ˈdȯr-ˌās,

kən-;

(ˌ)kän-ˌkwi-,

-ˌki-

or conquistadors

: one that conquers

specifically : a leader in the Spanish conquest of America and especially of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century

Examples of conquistador in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Rubio’s idea of the West is both messier and simpler, populated by muscular explorers and conquerors, from Alexander the Great and the Frankish king Charlemagne to the conquistador Hernán Cortés and the frontiersmen of the American West. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026 The 49-year-old Hollywood newcomer chose to paraphrase Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés after his 1519 landing in Mexico with 600 troops. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Antonio Banderas has signed on to star as Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in Cortés, a feature film directed by French filmmaker Paul Mignot from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 Huaca Pucllana was one of the most important ceremonial and administrative centers of the Lima culture, which disappeared centuries before a group of Spanish conquistadors founded Lima in 1535. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conquistador

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, ultimately from Latin conquirere — see conquer

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of conquistador was in 1830

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conquinamine

conquistador

Conrad

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Style

“Conquistador.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conquistador. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

conquistador

noun

con·quis·ta·dor kȯŋ-ˈkēs-tə-ˌdȯ(ə)r

kän-ˈk(w)is-,

kən-

plural conquistadores kȯŋ-ˌkēs-tə-ˈdȯr-ēz

-ˈdȯr-ˌās;

-ˈdōr-;

kän-k(w)is-,

ˈkən-

or conquistadors

: a leader in the Spanish conquest of America in the 16th century

Etymology

Spanish, derived from Latin conquirere "to search for"

conquistador

noun

Examples of conquistador in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition

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conquistador

noun

Examples of conquistador in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for conquistador

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on conquistador

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