noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)lɔː(ɹ)d/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈlɔː(ɹ)d/
CMU ARPABET:OW1 V ER0 L AO2 R D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A ruler of other rulers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The various tribal chieftains met each spring to elect an overlord that would lead them in time of war.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Examples
The tenant owed a variety of obligations to his overlord—usually including military service or serjeanty—but these were gradually converted into monetary rents.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Anyone with overarching power or authority in a given domain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: typically derogatory
Examples
The crusty old professor was overlord of the history department, and few dared to cross his will.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To rule over; to domineer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a person who has general authority over others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: master, lord
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ruler, swayer
Narrower terms: feudal lord, seigneur, seignior
History
Etymology
From Middle English oferrlaferrd, orlard, our-lord, ouyr-lord, equivalent to over- + lord.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
повелител
(povelitel)
— a ruler of other rulers
Dutch:
opperheer
— a ruler of other rulers
Georgian:
მბრძანებელი
(mbrʒanebeli)
— a ruler of other rulers
Georgian:
ბატონი
(baṭoni)
— a ruler of other rulers
Georgian:
სიუზერენი
(siuzereni)
— a ruler of other rulers
German:
Oberherr
— a ruler of other rulers
German:
Lehnsherr
— a ruler of other rulers
Greek:
επικυρίαρχος
(epikyríarchos)
— a ruler of other rulers
Greek:
ηγεμόνας
(igemónas)
— a ruler of other rulers
Hungarian:
legfőbb úr
— a ruler of other rulers
Icelandic:
lénsdrottinn
— a ruler of other rulers
Icelandic:
lénsherra
— a ruler of other rulers
Irish:
ard-aire
— a ruler of other rulers
Irish:
ardtiarna
— a ruler of other rulers
Italian:
signore supremo
— a ruler of other rulers
Italian:
sovrano
— a ruler of other rulers
Japanese:
覇王
(haō)
— a ruler of other rulers
Macedonian:
вла́детел
(vládetel)
— a ruler of other rulers
Manx:
ard-hiarn
— a ruler of other rulers
Polish:
cesarz
— a ruler of other rulers
Russian:
царь
(carʹ)
— a ruler of other rulers
Russian:
верхо́вный князь
(verxóvnyj knjazʹ)
— a ruler of other rulers
Swedish:
överherre
— a ruler of other rulers
Hungarian:
hűbérúr
— historical: feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord
Polish:
suweren
— historical: feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord
Polish:
suzeren
— historical: feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord
Portuguese:
susserano
— historical: feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord
Bulgarian:
господар
(gospodar)
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Italian:
signore feudale
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Macedonian:
го́сподар
(góspodar)
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Macedonian:
мо́ќник
(móḱnik)
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Polish:
pan
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Polish:
władca
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
Spanish:
señor feudal
— anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
