alguazil

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UK/al(ɡ)wəˈzɪl/UK/al(ɡ)wəˈziːl/

noun

An officer of the law in Spain or Latin America.

OriginEarly Modern Spanish and Portuguese alguazil ← Arabic اَلْوَزِير →
First used 16th c.Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounalguazil (plural alguazils or alguaziles)

plural alguazils · plural alguaziles · alternative alguacil

  1. An officer of the law in Spain or Latin America.First known use 16th c.
  2. bullfightingAn official who maintains order during a bullfight and ensures that the rules are followed; a referee.

Origin

  1. Arabicاَلْوَزِير“minister, vizier”
  2. Early Modern Spanish and Portuguesealguazil
  3. Englishalguazil

From Early Modern Spanish and Portuguese alguazil, from Arabic اَلْوَزِير (al-wazīr, “minister, vizier”). Doublet of vizier and wazir.

More words from Early Modern Spanish and Portuguese, Arabic

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese aguazil, alguazil
  • aguazilofficer of the law in Spain or Latin America
  • alguazilofficer of the law in Spain or Latin America
Cite this entry
APA

alguazil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alguazil

MLA

“alguazil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alguazil. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alguazil,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alguazil.

Source: alguazil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.