condottiere

UK: /ˌkɒndɒˈtjɛərɪ/

US: (kôn′də tyâr′ā, -tyâr′ē; It. kôn′dôt tye′re)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•dot•tie•re  (kôn′də tyâr′ā, -tyâr′ē; It. kôn′dôt tye′re), n., pl. -tie•ri 

(-tyâr′ē; It. -tye′rē). 
1. Military a leader of a private band of mercenary soldiers in Italy, esp. in the 14th and 15th centuries.
2. Military any mercenary;
   soldier of fortune.

• Latin -ārius -ary
• Latin conductus hired man, past participle of condūcere to conduce; see conduct) + -iere
• Italian, equivalent. to condott(o) (
• 1785–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

condottiere / ˌkɒndɒˈtjɛərɪ/ noun ( -ri / -riː/)

1. a commander or soldier in a professional mercenary company in Europe from the 13th to the 16th centuries

Etymology: 18th Century: from Italian, from condotto leadership, from condurre to lead, from Latin condūcere; see conduct