lord

Lord proper noun · noun · Lord noun · Lord interjection · verb

LORD/lɔɹd/UKLAWD/lɔːd/

Noun plurallords, Lords

22 meanings of lord

Practice

1
Godproper noun · Lordcountable or uncountable
A name for God, used in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
She thanked the Lord that nobody was hurt in the crash.
Jews, Christians and Muslims all pray to the Lord in their own ways.
UsageSay the Lord with a capital L.
SimilarGod, Almighty
Note
2
nouncountable
A man with power over other people, especially in the past a noble who owned land and ruled those living on it.
The people of the valley refused to obey their new lord.
The lords of the north met to choose a king.
UsageSay someone is lord over other people.
Similarmaster, ruler, sovereign
Note
3
Jesusproper noun · Lordcountable or uncountable
Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is God the Son.
At Christmas the children sing about the birth of our Lord in Bethlehem.
On Easter Sunday we remember that our Lord rose from the dead.
UsageChristians say our Lord for Jesus.
SimilarChrist, Savior
Note
4
noun · Lordcountable
A man of high noble rank in Britain, or the title before his name. Other countries have similar titles.
Lord Ashby asked the guests to follow him into the garden.
The duke's younger son is known as Lord James.
UsageSay Lord plus a name: Lord Ashby.
Note
5
god (other faiths)proper noun · Lordcountable or uncountable
A god from another religion who is very important to its followers or to one believer.
Every morning she lights a lamp for Lord Ganesha.
The Wiccan couple gave thanks to the Lord and the Lady under the full moon.
UsageSay Lord Shiva or Lord Ganesha.
Note
6
industry bossnouncountable
Someone with great power over a business, activity or place, as in 'drug lord'.
The coal lord owned every mine and most of the houses in the valley.
The railroad lords grew rich while their workers stayed poor.
UsagePut the field before lord: drug lord, press lord.
Similarbaron, magnate, tycoon, mogul, king
Note
7
officials' titlenoun · Lord
An extra title that shows a high official is very important, like a city's Lord Mayor.
The Lord Mayor opened the new library on Saturday.
The Lord Chancellor sat at the head of the long table.
UsageUse the before the title when naming the officeholder: the Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Less common meanings

8
exclamationinterjection · Lord
Said when you are amazed or surprised, or when you accept something you can't change.
Lord, look at all this snow!
Oh Lord, I forgot my keys again.
UsageSay Good Lord! or Oh Lord! when you are surprised.
SimilarGod, heavens, gosh
Note
9
verbtransitive or intransitive
To act as if you are better than others and can boss them around.
Don't lord it over the new kids just because you're older.
The old landowner lorded over the village for forty years.
UsageMost often used as lord it over someone: don't lord it over the new kids.
Similardomineer
Note
10
landowner's titlenoun · Lordcountable
A title that comes with owning land or certain rights, not with being a noble, such as lord of the manor.
The village fair was opened by the Lord of the Manor.
The king gave land in the new colony to a few rich men, and each one got the title Lord Proprietor.
11
make nobleverbtransitive
To make someone a lord, giving them the title and its rights and power.
Similarennoble
Note
12
festival leadernoun · Lordcountable
The person chosen by vote to lead a festival.
Every summer the village picks a Lord to lead the fair.
This year's Lord of the harvest festival rode at the front of the parade.
13
family headnounarchaic
The man who is the head of a family, such as a father or husband.
She laughed and said she had to ask her lord and master before buying the car.
Yes, here I am, my good friend; and here I have been so long, that anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise; but, the truth is, that I am waiting for my lord and master.
1815, [Jane Austen], EmmaHere, lord means the man at the head of the home, such as a husband.
UsageA wife may jokingly call her husband my lord and master.
Note
14
landownernounarchaic
The person who owns a house, land, or some other thing.
He was proud to be lord of a cottage and a cow.
A mightie Lord of Swine!
ante''' 1637, Ben Jonson, Sad ShepherdHere, Lord means owner, so someone who owns many pigs.
Note
15
below earlsnounobsolete
A baron or other lower noble, not a high one like an earl or a duke.
The Marquess played off the two Lords and the Baronet against his former friend.
1826, Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian GreyHere, Lords means lower nobles, below the greater ones.
1526, W. Bonde, Pylgrimage of Perfection, i. sig. Bviiiv Farre excellyng the state of lordes, erles, dukes or kynges.
Here, lordes means lower nobles, ranked below earls and dukes.
Note
16
sixpencenounobsoleteAustraliaBritish
A coin worth six pennies, used in Britain and Australia long ago.
Twenty years ago you might hear a sixpence described as a ‘Lord’ meaning ‘Lord of the Manor’; that is, a tanner.
1933, Times Literary Supplement, 782/1Here, Lord means sixpence, a coin worth six pennies.
Note
17
noun · LordformalUKbritish
A polite way to speak to a noble, a bishop, or some senior judges, usually as "my Lord".
"Yes, my Lord," the lawyer said to the judge.
The servant bowed and said, "Your car is waiting, my Lord."
UsageUse my Lord without a name: Thank you, my Lord.
18
proper noun
A family name from England.
19
noun
In feudal times, a man who held his manor and its land directly from the king.
20
noun
In astrology, the planet or star thought to control what happens at an event or time.
21
noun
The chief priest in a Wiccan group.
22
nounobsoleteBritish
A person whose back is bent and has a hump.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of lord apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 4–7, 9–17

It comes from Old English hlāford, made from the words for "bread" and "guardian".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Lord comes from Old English hlāford. en.wikipedia.org
Hlāford derives from the words for bread and guardian. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 8

From the word lord, used to translate the Latin, Greek and Hebrew words for "Lord" in the Bible.

Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

The biblical title Lord derives from the word lord. en.wiktionary.org
Lord was used to translate Latin dominus. en.wiktionary.org
Lord translates Greek κύριος in the Bible. en.wikipedia.org
Lord translates Hebrew Adonai in the Bible. en.wiktionary.org