Conquistadores

[kon-kwis-tuh-dawr, kong-; Spanish kawng-kees-tah-th awr] /kɒnˈkwɪs təˌdɔr, kɒŋ-; Spanish kɔŋˌkis tɑˈðɔr/

noun, plural conquistadors Spanish, conquistadores
[kawng-kees-tah-th aw-res] /kɔŋˌkis tɑˈðɔ rɛs/ (Show IPA)
1.
one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.
/kɒnˈkwɪstəˌdɔː; Spanish konkistaˈðor/
noun (pl) -dors, -dores (Spanish) (-ˈðores)
1.
an adventurer or conqueror, esp one of the Spanish conquerors of the New World in the 16th century
n.

1830, from Spanish conquistador, literally “conqueror,” noun of action from conquistar “to conquer,” from Vulgar Latin conquistare, from Latin conquistus, past participle of conquirere “to seek for” (see conquer).
conquistadores [(kong-kees-tuh-dawr-ays, kong-kees-tuh-dawr-eez)]

The Spanish military leaders who established Spanish rule in the New World by overthrowing Native American governments. (See Hernando Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.)