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Definition of matador

matador

/ˈmæt.ə.dɔːr/
mat · a · dor
Plural:matadors
•
Adjective:matadorial
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matador Lexical Profile

matador Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The principal bullfighter in a traditional Spanish bullfight who uses a red cape to maneuver the bull and ultimately performs the final thrust with a sword.

Example

"Dressed in an intricately embroidered suit of lights, the matador stepped into the center of the sandy arena."

2

One of the highest-ranking trump cards in certain traditional trick-taking card games, such as ombre or quadrille.

Example

"She held the top matador in her hand until the final round of the card game."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for matador

• Nearby Words

masturbation
masturbator
mat
matador
matamata
matamuhuri
matanuska

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish matador, literally meaning 'killer', from the verb matar ('to kill'), which is derived from Latin mactāre ('to slaughter or sacrifice').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Matador. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/matador
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