King vs. Lord: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A king is a monarch who rules a kingdom and typically holds sovereign power, while a lord is a title used for nobility or authority figures, often occupying a position below a king in the hierarchy of a monarchy.
Key Differences
Kings are sovereign rulers of entire kingdoms, holding the highest authority in their realm. Lords, in contrast, are nobility or landowners with authority, often subordinate to a king and ruling smaller areas or groups.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
The title of king historically signifies the ruler of a nation or large territory, often inheriting the position by birthright. The title of lord is more varied in its origins, often granted by a monarch or inherited, and can apply to different ranks within nobility.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
A king typically has wider governance responsibilities, overseeing the welfare, defense, and laws of an entire kingdom. Lords have more localized duties, managing their estates, lands, or specific administrative roles within a kingdom.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Historically, kings wielded supreme power, often seen as divinely appointed. Lords were part of the feudal system, serving as landowners, knights, or local rulers, holding allegiance to a king or higher noble.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Kings are often symbols of national unity and power, representing their kingdoms at home and abroad. Lords represent the aristocracy or upper classes, playing key roles in local governance and societal hierarchy.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Rank in Hierarchy
Highest sovereign ruler
Noble or authority figure, below king
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Role in Government
National leader, policymaker
Local administrator, landowner
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Historical Significance
Symbol of national sovereignty
Part of feudal nobility and land system
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
King and Lord Definitions
King
A male monarch of a country or major territorial unit.
The king decreed a national holiday.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Lord
A man of high rank in a feudal society or in one that retains feudal forms and institutions.
The lord of the manor was well-respected.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
King
The most important chess piece, whose capture is the game's objective.
He strategically moved his king to avoid checkmate.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Lord
A man who has authority over others, especially a master or ruler.
The workers looked up to their lord for guidance.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
King
A playing card with the picture of a king.
She won the hand with a pair of kings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Lord
A general title for a male of noble birth or high office.
Lord Smith was a prominent figure in the council.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
King
One that is supreme or preeminent in a particular group, category, or sphere
"In many countries, soccer is the king of sports" (Cameron W. Barr).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A man chosen as the winner of a contest or the honorary head of an event
A homecoming king.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
Abbr. K A playing card bearing the figure of a king, ranking above a queen.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
Abbr. K The principal chess piece, which can move one square in any direction and must be protected against checkmate.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A piece in checkers that has been moved to the last row on the opponent's side of the board and been crowned, thus becoming free to move both forward and backward.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
Used as a title for certain high officials and dignitaries
Lord Chamberlain.
The Lord Mayor of London.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A male monarch; a man who heads a monarchy. If it is an absolute monarchy, then he is the supreme ruler of his nation.
Henry VIII was the king of England from 1509 to 1547.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A powerful or majorly influential person.
Howard Stern styled himself as the "king of all media".
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
Something that has a preeminent position.
In times of financial panic, cash is king.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
(chess) The principal chess piece, that players seek to threaten with unavoidable capture to result in a victory by checkmate. It is often the tallest piece, with a symbolic crown with a cross at the top.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
To insist upon or boast about so as to act in a domineering or superior manner
"He had lorded over her his self-proclaimed spiritual and poetic superiority" (David Leavitt).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
(card games) A playing card with the letter "K" and the image of a king on it, the thirteenth card in a given suit.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
To act in a domineering or superior manner
An upperclassman lording over the younger students.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A checker (a piece of checkers/draughts) that reached the farthest row forward, thus becoming crowned (either by turning it upside-down, or by stacking another checker on it) and gaining more freedom of movement.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
To have a prominent or dominating position
The castle lords over the valley.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
(obsolete) The master of the servants of a household; (historical) the master of a feudal manor
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
The monarch with the most power and authority in a monarchy, regardless of sex.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
One possessing similar mastery over others; (historical) any feudal superior generally; any nobleman or aristocrat; any chief, prince, or sovereign ruler; in Scotland, a male member of the lowest rank of nobility (the equivalent rank in England is baron)
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
(graph theory) A vertex in a directed graph which can reach every other vertex via a path with a length of at most 2.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
One possessing similar mastery in figurative senses (esp. as lord of ~)
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
To promote a piece of draughts/checkers that has traversed the board to the opposite side, that piece subsequently being permitted to move backwards as well as forwards.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
(astrology) The heavenly body considered to possess a dominant influence over an event, time, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A Chinese musical instrument, consisting of resonant stones or metal plates, arranged according to their tones in a frame of wood, and struck with a hammer.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A chief ruler; a sovereign; one invested with supreme authority over a nation, country, or tribe, usually by hereditary succession; a monarch; a prince.
Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.
There was a State without king or nobles.
But yonder comes the powerful King of Day,Rejoicing in the east
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
One who, or that which, holds a supreme position or rank; a chief among competitors; as, a railroad king; a money king; the king of the lobby; the king of beasts.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
(transitive) To invest with the dignity, power, and privileges of a lord; to grant the title of lord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A playing card having the picture of a king{1}; as, the king of diamonds.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
One who has power and authority; a master; a ruler; a governor; a prince; a proprietor, as of a manor.
But now I was the lordOf this fair mansion.
Man over menHe made not lord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
A titled nobleman., whether a peer of the realm or not; a bishop, as a member of the House of Lords; by courtesy; the son of a duke or marquis, or the eldest son of an earl; in a restricted sense, a baron, as opposed to noblemen of higher rank.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
A title bestowed on the persons above named; and also, for honor, on certain official persons; as, lord advocate, lord chamberlain, lord chancellor, lord chief justice, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
To supply with a king; to make a king of; to raise to royalty.
Those traitorous captains of Israel who kinged themselves by slaying their masters and reigning in their stead.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
One of whom a fee or estate is held; the male owner of feudal land; as, the lord of the soil; the lord of the manor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
Preeminence in a particular category or group or field;
The lion is the king of beasts
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Lord
To play the lord; to domineer; to rule with arbitrary or despotic sway; - sometimes with over; and sometimes with it in the manner of a transitive verb; as, rich students lording it over their classmates.
The whiles she lordeth in licentious bliss.
I see them lording it in London streets.
And lorded over them whom now they serve.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
United States charismatic civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of Blacks (1929-1968)
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A checker that has been moved to the opponent's first row where it is promoted to a piece that is free to move either forward or backward
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
King
A man who is the best or most important in his field.
He was hailed as the king of blues guitar.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Lord
A deity or revered figure.
They offered prayers to the Lord for a good harvest.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
King
A large, impressive, or important person or thing.
That massive oak tree is the king of the forest.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Lord
Used in various compound titles.
Lord Justice Smith presided over the court.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are all lords royalty?
Not necessarily, they are often nobles but not always royalty.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can a king also be a lord?
Yes, a king can hold the title of lord in certain contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can a woman hold the title of king?
Traditionally no, but in some cultures, female rulers have been considered equivalent to kings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Do lords play a role in modern governments?
In some countries with hereditary nobility, they do.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Do kings have absolute power?
In some historical and contemporary contexts, yes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Do lords have judicial power?
Historically, many lords held judicial powers over their lands.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can a king be elected?
In some historical contexts, kings were elected, but it's rare today.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Can a king be a military leader?
Historically, many kings also led their armies.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Is a king's role symbolic or active?
It can be either, depending on the country and government structure.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Does a king have more power than a lord?
Generally, yes, in terms of political and social hierarchy.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
What responsibilities do lords have?
Historically, managing their estates and overseeing local affairs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Do lords still have feudal duties?
In modern times, traditional feudal duties have mostly disappeared.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
