# Il Duce

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /iːl ˈduːtʃeɪ/

## Definitions
1. The title which Italian dictator Benito Mussolini assumed during his rule (1922—1945).

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian il Duce (literally “the Leader”), from duce (“commander, leader”), from Latin dux, accusative ducem (“leader”), from the nomen agentis form of Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to lead”). Doublet of duke.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/il-duce