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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Guatemalan photographer, Juan Brenner, whose work was also exhibited at PhotoVogue Festival 2021, focused on his Guatemalan origins by researching the history of legendary Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado (1484-1541). 
Rica Cerbarano, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 There are history lessons that come to life before our eyes — about the Mexican-American War and the atrocities committed by Hernán Cortés, the 16th-century Spanish conquistador of Mexico. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Conservative talk radio host and former mayoral candidate Eddy Aragon also criticized the decision, especially in light of a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate being removed in Albuquerque. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 17 Aug. 2022 The recovered items range from simple arrowheads from a private collection in Portland, Ore., to 16th-century documents written by Spanish conquistador Hernán Córtes, Mexican officials say. Robert P. Walzer, WSJ, 30 July 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés ordered the temple buried after his arrival in Mexico in 1519; its ruins were only rediscovered in the 20th century. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 See More
Rica Cerbarano, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 There are history lessons that come to life before our eyes — about the Mexican-American War and the atrocities committed by Hernán Cortés, the 16th-century Spanish conquistador of Mexico. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Conservative talk radio host and former mayoral candidate Eddy Aragon also criticized the decision, especially in light of a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate being removed in Albuquerque. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 17 Aug. 2022 The recovered items range from simple arrowheads from a private collection in Portland, Ore., to 16th-century documents written by Spanish conquistador Hernán Córtes, Mexican officials say. Robert P. Walzer, WSJ, 30 July 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés ordered the temple buried after his arrival in Mexico in 1519; its ruins were only rediscovered in the 20th century. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an armed expedition of more than 2,500 Europeans and Mexican-Indian allies through what is now Mexico and the American Southwest in search of riches. CBS News, 14 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish, ultimately from Latin conquirere — see conquer
First Known Use
1830, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
conquistador
noun
con·quis·ta·dor kän-ˈkē-stə-ˌdȯr
plural conquistadores
-ˌkē-stə-ˈdȯr-ēz
or conquistadors : a leader in the Spanish conquest especially of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century