Warlord

Pronunciation: /ˈwɔːrˌlɔːrd/

Warlord (noun)

  1. A person who controls an area by using their own armed forces, often when the government is weak.
  2. A leader who gains power mainly through fighting and command of soldiers, not through legal authority.

Examples

  • The armed local leader controlled the town with fear.
  • People avoided the streets because the armed local leader demanded loyalty.