generalissimo

noun

gen·​er·​a·​lis·​si·​mo ˌje-nə-rə-ˈli-sə-ˌmō How to pronounce generalissimo (audio)
ˌjen-rə-
plural generalissimos
: the chief commander of an army

Examples of generalissimo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Nationalist generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek tended to see trials against Japanese war criminals as a distraction from his struggle against the Communists. Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023 Between then and now, a blink of an eye, that same corporal became a generalissimo, a writer, and an editor supremo. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2020 Like generalissimo, Allen is given to strong pronouncements. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2019 Her romance with Castro and another with the Venezuelan generalissimo Marcos Pérez Jiménez, who fathered her daughter, both appear to have been confirmed. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2019 After a few years of meandering, though, Oliver Cromwell, a member of parliament turned generalissimo led a coup d’état. Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 23 Apr. 2018 Many statues of the generalissimo were removed; about 100 of them are now dotted round a park next to one of Chiang’s villas in Cihu district in northern Taiwan, where his body lies in a black marble sarcophagus. The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017 Many statues of the generalissimo were removed The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017 The owner of Chez Panisse and generalissimo of the organic food revolution? Gregory Cowles, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'generalissimo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from generale general

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of generalissimo was in 1621

Dictionary Entries Near generalissimo

Cite this Entry

“Generalissimo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generalissimo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

generalissimo

noun
gen·​er·​a·​lis·​si·​mo ˌjen-(ə-)rə-ˈlis-ə-ˌmō How to pronounce generalissimo (audio)
plural generalissimos
: the commander in chief of an army
Etymology

Italian

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!