Conquest means taking control of a place or people by force, usually through military victory. When an army conquers a territory, the conquest is complete: they've defeated the defenders and now rule the land. Throughout history, empires expanded through conquest, with powerful nations like Rome, the Mongol Empire, and Spain seizing control of vast territories.

Conquest specifically implies taking something through force rather than negotiation or peaceful means. The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 is one of history's most famous conquests: William of Normandy defeated the English army and became king, permanently changing English language, culture, and government.

Conquest can also mean overcoming a difficult challenge, though this is less common. A mountain climber might speak of the conquest of Mount Everest, or a scientist might celebrate the conquest of a disease like polio. In these cases, the word suggests a hard-won victory over something that seemed nearly impossible to defeat.

The related word conqueror means someone who conquers. Alexander the Great earned the nickname “the Great” partly because his conquests created one of the largest empires in ancient history, stretching from Greece to India.