duce

[ doo-chey; Italian doo-che ]

noun

, plural du·ces, du·ci [doo, -chee].

1. a leader or dictator.
2. il Duce [eel , doo, -chey, eel , doo, -che]. the leader: applied especially to Benito Mussolini as head of the fascist Italian state.

duce

¹

/ ˈduːtʃɪ; ˈduːtʃe /

noun

1. leader

Duce

²

/ ˈduːtʃe /

noun

1. Il Duce
   the title assumed by Benito Mussolini as leader of Fascist Italy (1922–43)

Word History and Origins

Origin of duce¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Italian, from Medieval Latin dux (genitive ducis ), Latin: “leader”; duke, dux

Word History and Origins

Origin of duce¹

C20: from Italian, from Latin dux

Example Sentences

She also pro- duces food and spirit events across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

In the lead-up to trial, Burr, taking aim at his accusers, moved for a subpoena duces tecum directed at Jefferson.

From Reuters

The Vietnamese politely took what they were offered, but within twenty-four hours the complaints started coming back—the “American soap … didn’t pro- duce suds or clean properly.”

From MSNBC

Gillespie’s three spots, which continue to air in markets across the state, include a one-minute spot called “American Dream” that intro­duces Gillespie as the son of an Irish immigrant.

From Washington Post

Pretense, denial, wishful thinking — these are among the stages in the downfall of a duce.

From Washington Post